Above is the table tent for an original cocktail (or Bachtail) I created for an event at Le Poisson Rouge. Simone Dinnerstein and Järvi's Absolute Ensemble were performing Bach music with a unique approach, so at first I thought I would reinvent a classic cocktail. Instead some historical details from Bach's life inspired me.
Here's what I came up with:
2oz gin - an alcohol derived from Jenever, a juniper flavored malted grain spirit popular all throughout Europe during his lifetime.
1oz St. Germain - a liqueur formulated from elderflowers grown in the Alps near his homeland.
1/2oz Green Chartreuse - an herbal liqueur made in a monastery, a nod to his sacred works.
1oz freeshly squeezed Grapefruit Juice - the grapefruit was discovered in the West Indies in 1750, the year he died.
1/2oz Simple Syrup - much like his music, the industry would not be the same without it.
Shake all of the ingredients 15 times over ice (while listening to Bach) and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a twist from the peel of the grapefruit.
The sweetness of the elderflower and simple syrup give way to the tart and herbal qualities of the grapefruit juice and Green Chartreuse. The gin is a sublime way to hold it altogether while rounding it out.
A special thanks to Jonathan, Beth, and Susan for their advice and discernable pallets, and to Simone for giving me the assignment.
