Tangerine Thyme Cocktail Recipe

If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again. At least that was the theme for this Spring Herb inspired cocktail. Luckily we were heading to a friends’ home for the Cinco/Derby weekend and I would have a few people to play with me. Taste testing versions #1 & #2 till we agreed #3 was the ideal version of a beverage I had never before made but had agreed to use as my contribution to the newly formed Sunday Supper Movement. A group of bloggers committed to bringing the family and friends back to the table for the Sunday meal.

I had something close to a recipe in my head but needed to adjust as the local shop in Baltimore, Graul’s, did not offer the mixer I was hoping to use {I feel a version 4 & 5 coming on}. However the basics stayed the same.

 

 

* Thyme & Tangerine Infused Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar into 1 cup water over heat till sugar dsolves. {Make sure to watch as the sugar is likely to burn if you turn your head to say check the crushed ice maker is filled….}

Place 4-5 sprigs of fresh cut Thyme and about 1/4 tangerine peel to mixture. Continue to heat on low. Set aside to chill. {I found that if you leave this over night the Thyme flavor will really develop and adds much more to the flavor but play around with your preference level.}

Tangerine Thyme Refresher

INGREDIENTS:

{makes one cocktail}

• 1-1 1/2 ounces of Gin
• 3 Parts Tangerine Soda
• 1 Part Thyme infused Simple Syrup
• Sprig of Thyme & small amount of Thyme leaves for garnish
• Tangerine Peel

After testing three versions –

* San Pelgrino Tangerine was the prefered decided to have the best fizz, and Tangerine flavor with out adding to much sweetness.

* Gin was preferred over Vodka even with the “Vodka Drinkers” and gave it the herbal quality I was looking for. But give it a try yourself if you are skeptical.

* Some asked for more fizz which could be added with Tonic or Club based on your taste

* edible flowers are optional but my taste testers comments made them worth it. “I don’t know how it tastes but it is beautiful” ; “I wouldn’t change a thing”

Try your own versions with your own taste testers and let me know what you think in the comments below!