RTD Cocktail Club — Round Turn Distilling

Welcome, RTD Cocktail Club Members, to our February installment! Each month we will be featuring a classic cocktail, sharing the story behind it, and bottling it along with three interesting variations for you to try and enjoy at home. This week in honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating Pink Drinks!

History

While they may not technically be a category of cocktail, pink drinks have a special place in bar professionals’ hearts. Usually celebratory, often approachable, and always pretty to look at, pink drinks have an allure all their own.

Two of the earliest classic “pink drinks” are the similarly-minded Pink Lady and Clover Club. Originating around the end of the 19th century, both cocktails are prepared with egg white, which creates an attractive pale foam head for the drink, providing a pleasant contrast to the rich pink hue.

CLOVER CLUB

2oz Bimini Gin
.5oz lemon juice
.5oz raspberry syrup
1 egg white

PINK LADY

1.25oz Bimini Gin
.75oz applejack
.5oz lemon juice
.5oz grenadine
1 egg white

METHOD

Add egg white to a cocktail shaker with the spring of a hawthorne strainer and shake dry for 15 seconds to break up the proteins.

Remove the spring and add the remaining ingredients with a scoop of ice and shake again for 20 seconds until well-chilled and foamy.

Double-strain into a chilled stemmed glass and garnish.

Recipes

APPLE OF MY EYE APERITIF

.75oz Bimini Gin
.25oz applejack
1oz Salers aperitif
1oz dry vermouth
Dash Peychaud’s bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled stemmed glass. Garnish with a strip of lemon zest.

FORBIDDEN FRUIT MARTINI

2oz Bimini Gin
.75oz lime juice
.5oz raspberry gum syrup
.25oz simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake 30 seconds until well-chilled. Double-strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel.

NIGHTCAP PAS DE DEUX

1.5oz Bimini Overproof
.5oz lemon juice
.25oz simple syrup
barspoon absinthe
Peychaud’s bitters
Sparkling white wine

Combine first 5 ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds to combine ingredients and gently dilute. Strain into a chilled flute and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a cherry-soaked sugar cube.