Gin.

If any of you read the LA Times this past Wednesday, you may have noticed the nod to gin.  A spirit that has gotten tossed aside to make room for vodka, gin is a reason to drink, a bouquet of flavor, and a cocktail slinger's dream.

My personal favorite of the moment is Hendrick's, which has a slight cucumber flavor blended with its other botanicals.  Another cocktail that I developed recently uses gin as a primary ingredient, and it is selling like crazy - to a crowd that drinks primarily vodka - I guess I tricked them with the name.  We call it the Strawberry Thyme Martini.  Simple, unassuming name that makes you think it will be approachable and interesting (I think).

Ingredients and Preparation:

1 whole Strawberry

3 sprigs of Thyme

Squeeze (1/4-1/2 oz.) of Agave Syrup

*Muddle*

Add ice

2 oz. Hendrick's gin

Splash of Soda Water (or a variation uses Rhubarb DRY Soda)

Shake for 10 full seconds

Strain through fine mesh strainer

Garnish with sprig of thyme.

Although the gin is the primary ingredient, the balance of the other flavors don't allow people to be turned off by the flavor.  Instead, I bumped up the herbal quotient with thyme, which actually brings out more of the gin flavor, but with a different balance.

The drink is a beautiful light pink color, clear of any thyme leaves or chunks of strawberry to cloud its simplicity.

This is my wife's new favorite.

It's a keeper.

Drink well,

HB