We're calling it: 2016 has been the year of the savoury cocktail. And with our infinitely customizable savoury cocktail recipe, you can create a signature drink at home. With flavours that are briny, herbal and refreshingly sour, it'll be a welcome change from the usual boozy-sweet holiday concoctions.
Base recipe Combine 1 oz cognac or brandy with 1 oz spirit of your choosing, 1tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp of pickle brine and 2 tsp simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with 2 cups ice. Add 1 herb sprig and shake vigorously for 10 sec. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with a pickle and add a second herb sprig.
Pairings
No. 1. Vodka, caper berries and dill
No. 2. Gin, pickled asparagus & rosemary sprig.
No. 3. Sake, peperoncini & rosemary sprig.
No. 4. Tequila, pickled bean & bay leaf.
No. 5. Whiskey, bread-and-butter pickle & thyme.
Pro tip: Slap the herbs between your hands to release essential oils before adding to cocktail glass.
Simple syrup: Boil 1 cup sugar with one cup water in a small pot until sugar dissolves. Cool and refrigerate for up to one month. Makes 1 1/2 cups.
More:
How to stock a bar for under $200
18 easy holiday cocktails
Recipe: Christmas ale
Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.