Fall Flavors: Nature’s Balance in Cocktails
English author and satirist Samuel Butler once commented that “autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.” Fall is indeed a season of abundance, with pears, apples, and Meyer lemons ripe for the picking. In this article, we’ll explore how to incorporate these seasonal flavors into cocktails, showcasing the perfect balance of sweet and tart, bitter and sweet.
Why Nature Matters
Cocktails are typically about balance: sweet and tart, bitter and sweet, strong and weak, etc. But nature will often do that for you already if you use the ripe fruit in its own season. I question this newest bartender trend where fruit is “acid corrected” by adding artificially derived citric acid. I say, let nature run its course.
Seasonal Liqueurs
However, there are some times when nature needs a hand, and we do have to do it more mechanically. And that’s where quality seasonal liqueurs come in. Made from fresh fruit in season but often released the next year, many local producers have excellent examples of these products.
Recipes
Apple Sidecar
- 1 ½ ounces Barber Lee Spirits’ Apple Brandy
- ¾ ounce good-quality triple sec (like Cointreau, Combier or Naranja)
- ¾ ounce fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- Slice of fresh apple
- Cinnamon sugar
Wet the rim of the glass with citrus juice and then dip it in cinnamon sugar. Shake off the excess and set aside. In a shaker glass, combine the first three ingredients with ice, shake until ice cold and strain into the rimmed glass. Garnish with an apple slice.
Smoked Rosemary Pear
- ¾ ounce Alamere Spirits’ French-Wheat Vodka
- ¾ ounce St. George Spirits’ Spiced Pear Liqueur
- ¾ ounce St. Elder Elderflower Liqueur
- ¾ ounce fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker glass with ice. Shake until ice cold and then strain into a chilled serving coupe. Away from the cocktail and any alcohol bottle, flame the rosemary sprig by using either a lighter or a brûlée torch, taking care not to burn yourself. Drop the smoking rosemary sprig into the drink and serve.
Cranberry Rosemary Gin and Tonic
- 1 ½ ounces Sausalito Liquor Co.’s Marin Coastal Gin
- 2 ounces good-quality dry tonic (Fever-Tree, Q, etc.)
- 1 Meyer lemon wedge (about a quarter of a lemon)
- 5 fresh cranberries
- 3 dried juniper berries
Place the cranberries in the bottom of serving glass and muddle lightly with a muddler or a large wooden spoon. Add ice to fill and then add gin and tonic. Squeeze the lemon wedge’s juice into the mixture, dropping the lemon in after. Stir and then garnish with juniper berries.
Boysenberry Cosmopolitan
- 1 ½ ounces Hanson of Sonoma’s Boysenberry Vodka
- ¾ ounce good-quality triple sec (like Cointreau, Combier or Naranja)
- ¾ ounce fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- ¼ ounce sweetened pomegranate juice
- 3 fresh pomegranate seeds
- 1 dehydrated Meyer lemon wheel
Combine the vodka, triple sec, lemon juice and pomegranate juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until ice cold and strain into a chilled serving glass. Garnish with the lemon wheel and pomegranate seeds.
Conclusion
Fall is a season of abundance, and incorporating seasonal flavors into cocktails can elevate the drink to new heights. By using fresh fruit in its own season, we can achieve the perfect balance of sweet and tart, bitter and sweet. And when nature needs a hand, quality seasonal liqueurs can provide the necessary boost.
FAQs
Q: What is the best way to incorporate seasonal flavors into cocktails?
A: Use fresh fruit in its own season to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and tart, bitter and sweet.
Q: Why should I avoid artificially derived citric acid in cocktails?
A: Artificially derived citric acid can overpower the natural flavors of the fruit, leading to an unbalanced taste.
Q: What are some good quality seasonal liqueurs to use in cocktails?
A: Many local producers have excellent examples of seasonal liqueurs made from fresh fruit in season, such as Barber Lee Spirits’ Apple Brandy and St. George Spirits’ Spiced Pear Liqueur.
