Spring Feeling Cocktail
So, by now I’m sure you know that St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, if for no other reason than I’ve been telling you. But in case you’ve missed all the green everywhere and the racks and racks of shamrocks, leprechauns and gold coins… it’s St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday. But something you may not know is that the first day of spring is Wednesday. And this year… at least here in California, spring is going to be insane! Not only are we in the middle of a super bloom thanks to all the rain, California is officially no longer in a drought! YAY!!!!!! So, I wanted to mix up a cocktail that celebrated both spring and St. Patrick’s Day.
The Spring Feeling Cocktail not only has “spring” right in the name, it’s bright green. But unlike that awful green beer pubs everywhere will be serving this weekend, the green in this cocktail doesn’t come from a bottle. Okay, that’s not entirely true. It comes from a bottle, but it’s not a bottle of food coloring. It’s a bottle of Green Chartreuse, that delightful liqueur made of 130 herbs and plants. It’s all those herbs and plants that give the Chartreuse it’s herbal flavor, making it the perfect liqueur for a cocktail named after the spring.
If the Green Chartreuse isn’t herbal enough for you, this drink’s base liquor is gin which is made from juniper berries. But depending which gin you prefer, there are other herbs, plants, and flowers that round it out. Some have cinnamon, lemon peel, and licorice while others use angelica root, coriander and cumin. Since each brand has their own special recipe, each gin tastes different and so will give the cocktail a whole new flavor. The first time you shake it up, it may be more herbal, whereas next time could be more floral simply by switching gins. Being surrounded by all the wild flowers and green grass, I’d probably opt for a more floral tipple, but that’s just me.
While all those botanicals explain the spring connections, you’re probably wondering where the St. Patrick’s Day theme comes in. Well, it’s green thanks to the Green Chartreuse. Yes, it’s not made with Irish whiskey or Guinness, but that green color from the Chartreuse is enough to make this 1930’s tipple worthy of the green holiday. And good news: it tastes delicious! So, this year put down that pint of green beer and imbibe something worthy of both St. Patrick’s Day and spring.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce green chartreuse
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.
