The classic Bloody Mary is a fan favorite, but what about expanding to other savory cocktails?
Savory cocktails are having a moment. Last year saw an uptick with them in the hipster communities of New York City, Los Angeles and even DC. The super sweet staples like Cosmopolitans are still popular, so don’t worry…but drinkers are expanding their palate past sugary flavored beverages. The Bloody Mary has been the poster child for savory drinks with its tomato goodness. The dirty martini is another popular order at bars. And summer brings the bitter Aperol Spritz. But these recipes add another whole taste profile, are you open to try one of the savory cocktails?
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The Bullshot
Some could call the Bullshot a cousin of the Bloody Mary. This cocktail’s origin story starts in Detroit, the Motor City. The drink emerged around 1952 with the help of John Hurley, a regular at the newly opened steakhouse, the Caucus Club (still a city favorite). John Hurley, a regular at the steakhouse, was an advertising executive and had a new client Campbell’s Soup. They were launching canned bouillon and Hurley needed to sell a lot of cans, and the Bullshot is one of the marketing ideas which became a bar staple.
Ingredients
The Everything Martini
The everything bagel has spawned an entire mini-industry. Some cooking influencers have have said they only use the “everything bagel” spice and Pringles has come out with an everything bagel chip. The super savory cocktail almost acts like an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon everything bagel spice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- 3 ounces gin or vodka
- 0.5 to 0.75 ounces olive juice, to taste
- 0.5 ounce dry vermouth
- 3 stuffed olives
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Create
- Fill martini glass with ice and water to chill
- In a mixing glass, add gin or vodka and olive juice and fill with ice
- Stir for 45 seconds until the mixing glass is frosted and ice cold
- Working quickly, discard the ice from the martini glass and place the everything bagel spice on a plate. Using a small brush or the edge of a napkin, wipe simple syrup under the rim of half of martini glass and immediately roll it in the everything bagel spice
- If any of the spice is on the inside of the rim, wipe it away, preventing bits of of spice floating into the drink
- Add the vermouth to the martini glass. Roll the glass so the inside is coated with vermouth, then discard
- Strain the alcohol and olive juice mixture into the glass
- Garnish with 3 stuffed olives skewered onto a sprig of rosemary
Grin & Carrot
This drink makes the most of trips to the Farmer’s Market. First made at Dukes, the produce forward eatery in Healdsburg, California. It is almost like a club version of a smoothie!
Ingredients
- 4–5 caraway seeds
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1 ounce carrot syrup (recipe below)
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ¼ ounce dry vermouth
- Fennel frond or carrot top with leaves, for garnish
Carrot Syrup Ingredients
- 4 ounces fresh carrot juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup (1 part water to 1 part sugar)
Create Carrot Syrup (Makes enough for 6 cocktails)
- Stir together carrot juice and simple syrup
- Use immediately
Create
- In a cocktail shaker, use a muddler to crack the caraway seeds
- Add remaining ingredients and ice
- Shake well, and double-strain into a coupe glass
- Add garnishes
The Spicy Mint Julep
Why not cut the sweetness of an old friend? The classic mint julep can be refreshing – but what about giving it a deeper, richer flavor by muddling a jalapeño into it and cutting some of the sugar?
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 ounces bourbon
- 1/2 half of a jalapeño
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 4-6 mint leaves
- 1 splash soda water
Create
- In a julep or rocks glass, add mint leaves, jalapeños and simple syrup
- Gently muddle mint and jalapeños
- Add enough crushed ice to fill the glass two-thirds of the way
- Pour bourbon over top and stir gently to mix
- Fill with more crushed ice to mound over top.
- Top with a splash of soda water
- Garnish with a slice of jalapeño and a sprig of mint
After checking out these recipes, are you open to try one of the savory cocktails?