I love herbs in cocktails! Fresh rosemary adds an herbalicious flavor to this citrusy cocktail. See my method below for making the rosemary sugar and creating a deep sugar rim on the glass.
Rosemary Grapefruit Drop
Makes 1 drink
Rosemary Sugar (recipe follows)
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 1/2 ounces grapefruit vodka
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup*
Garnish: fresh rosemary sprig
Rim a large martini glass (see procedure below) with rosemary sugar, and set aside.
Bend 1 rosemary sprig and drop into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice. Measure in the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Cap and shake vigorously. Strain into the sugar-rimmed glass. Float a rosemary sprig in the drink for garnish.
*boil 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water for 1 minute; then cool.
Rosemary Sugar
Makes 1 cup
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped
1 cup superfine or baker’s sugar
Mix the rosemary and sugar together, and spread the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet. Set in a warm dry place, until the rosemary is completely dried – about 3-4 days. Process in a food processor until finely ground. Store in a tightly sealed container.
To make deep rosemary sugar rim: Set out a wide bowl filled with superfine rosemary sugar. Holding a martini glass by the stem, press a lemon or orange wedge against the top 1 to 1 1/2 inches of the outside rim of the glass and rotate the glass to coat the rim lightly with juice. Then push the rim into the bowl of sugar at a 45-degree angle. Spin the glass until the outside moistened area is completely and evenly coated with sugar. Holding the glass upside down, tap lightly to remove excess sugar. Do not get sugar inside the glass.
