Toolshed Cocktails: The Whip-Poor-Will

(First in a new feature devoted to drinks made with ingredients on hand, and how necessityquite often proves to be the mother of delicious new inventive cocktails.) Saturday night, 11 p.m., Bellport, Long Island. After sort of co-hosting a memorial gathering at a lovely house on Long Island Sound, and weathering the welcome-but-long-lingering guests, the host and I were ready for something serioulsy refreshing. I'd purchased some pink grapefruits that morning for juice the next morning, so I grabbed those. Took two rocks glasses, filled them to just over the rim with ice and added about 2 oz. of Beefeater, then squeezed (through a strainer) the grapefruits, almost filling the glasses. Wanting to add a little punch I squeezed about one slice of lemon over the top of each cocktail, topping it off with some fresh-ground sea salt, direclty into the drink. We'd had more than enough white wine and vodka and I felt hungry for salt and citrus and thought this would do the trick--afterwards I wondered if rimming the glasses with salt, Salty Dog style, would have added something, but the sea-salt float was just delicious at the time. Also, The Australian  Murray River Pink Flake Salt that Jim Ryan used for the Rocket Ship might be great here too. A last minute survey of the fridge turned up some organic blueberries--half a dozen dropped into each drink and we had the Whip-Poor-Will, named after a long defunct jazz club in New York we'd been reminiscing over. The blueberries were that inadvertently inspired touch, adding a great visual punch and, after they been soaking in the gin-y brine for a bit were a great couterpoint to pop into your mouth. Next time I might squeeze a little bluebery juice into the glasses to disperse that flavor. I'd also consider plugging in some Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and possibly some Flatiron Bitters (1/2 Fee Bros. Grapefruit Bitters, 1/2 Gary Regan's Organge Bitters #5--thanks to Damon Dyer). I'll be attending a Gin Symposium this afternoon with half the players in the gin game in attendance and plan to solicit ideas for improvemtents to this impromptu cocktail-If you've any ideas for improvements or riffs on the Whip-Poor-Will please share them with us at [email protected]. J.R.

Comments

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Good info thanks!!! You're going to drink. Do it well.