Infuse: Oil, Spirit, Water (14 page)

Authors: Eric Prum,Josh Williams

12 hours

12 oz

A tasty blend of spicy jalapeños, cooling cucumber, and herbaceous gin makes for a delicious infused spirit you can use in a variety of cocktails.

12 oz of gin

10 sliced rounds of cucumber

1/2 of a jalapeño, halved lengthwise and seeds removed

i.
Combine all ingredients in a 16 oz Mason jar. Seal and shake for three seconds.

ii.
Let infuse at room temperature for 12 hours.

iii.
Strain through cheesecloth. The infusion will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Great for spicing up your standard gin & tonic or putting a new twist on a classic cocktail (
Spicy Cucumber Gimlet
).

some like it hot

The longer this infusion sits, the spicier it gets. So be sure to taste the jalapeño before using. If it’s especially spicy, simply remove the pepper early on in the infusing process.

Makes one cocktail

This is a spicy, savory take on the classic gin cocktail, the gimlet. Traditionally a shaken cocktail made with dry gin and sweetened lime juice, this version subsitutes in Spicy Cucumber Gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup for a delicious result.

2 & 1/4 oz of
Spicy Cucumber Gin

3/4 oz of lime juice

3/4 oz of
simple syrup

1 sliced round of cucumber

i.
Combine the Spicy Cucumber Gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.

ii.
Add ice to above the liquid and shake for 15 seconds.

iii.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a round of cucumber.

To make the simple syrup: Combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool before using.

E
schew those artificially flavored fruity spirits that you find on your liquor store’s shelf for the fresh, bright taste of homemade fruit-infused spirits. These flash infusions are so quick and easy to prepare that you’ll never touch the storebought stuff again. We guarantee it.

It’s easy to master the technique for making a fresh fruit-infused spirit. Just add ripe fruit to a Mason jar, muddle to release the flavors of the fruit, and pour in your spirit. After a quick shake, strain the infusion through cheesecloth to remove any pieces of fruit and you’re done.

When you’re deciding what to make, think about which fruits are in season and pick from those options. We’ve chosen four of our favorite fruit-spirit pairings, but the possibilities for combinations are limited only by your imagination—and rate of consumption.