The Disinfectant

April 26, 2020 by Jennifer

As you all know we’re stuck inside… “safer at home”. We’re trying to work or be intimate with our significant other all while homeschooling or cutting our hair. It’s really hard! All we want (and by we I mean I) is to get out and be with people. In person! But between dousing ourselves with hand sanitizer and wiping down everything we touch with disinfecting wipes it’s pretty much impossible to conceive of a time when we might be able to see people again.

There is one thing we can continue to do though, and that’s drink! Imbibe! Sip! Swig! Guzzle! Do whatever you have to in order to be merry during this really un-fun time in our lives. But whatever you’re going to drink, DO NOT, under any circumstances, drink disinfectant. I know it’s really good at cleaning door knobs and counters, but just because it’s great on hard surfaces, doesn’t mean it it’s good for people to ingest.

Don’t believe me? Just think about all those kids who ate the Tide pods a few years ago and look at how well that turned out.

But if you’re still gung ho about ingesting something blue to help you feel better, I have the perfect cocktail. It’s called The Disinfectant, but all the ingredients are edible… or should I say drinkable. There isn’t one thing in this lovely little tipple that will make you sick… unless you have too many of them.

“Well then, how is it blue?” you may ask. That’s easy, I used Empress 1908 gin. Empress 1908 gets its beautiful indigo hue from the exotic herb, the butterfly pea blossom. But the blossom not only adds that amazing color, it also adds a subtle earthiness to the flavor, giving the gin a distinct umami taste. It’s delicious and makes the perfect base for this cocktail without adding any unwanted ingredients or coloring. But a drink with just gin isn’t a cocktail. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really pretty, but it’s not a cocktail. For a cocktail you need a few more ingredients.

Since I wanted to make a drink that would make you feel better, I infused some simple syrup with chamomile tea which helps with headaches, stomach aches and cramps, all things Covid-19 cause. Finally, I wanted a hint of orange. Unfortunately, actual citrus juices change the color of the Empress to a beautiful pink, which meant orange juice was out. So, I used orange bitters instead. I still got that orange flavor I wanted, but the cocktail remained blue. In the end, I had a wonderful new Disinfectant that you could enjoy without any fear of death. It’s so good, it may be my new at-home remedy… until this is all over, anyway.