Smoked cocktails are all the rage right now. The smoky notes add depth and flavor to classic libations and are especially fun to try during the summer grilling months. This Smoked Rosemary Gin & Topo is a fun Texas twist on the classic, refreshing gin & tonic. Cheers!
Smoked Rosemary Gin & Topo
Ingredients
2 ounces gin
1 Tablespoon smoked rosemary simple syrup
3 ounces Topo Chico (or other seltzer water)
1 fresh rosemary sprigs
Lemon wedges
Instructions
Burn the just the end of the rosemary sprig, carefully, on a plate, until smoking, and place cocktail glass over the top of the sprig to trap the smoke.
Stir rosemary simple syrup and gin in a cocktail mixer with ice.
Remove cocktail glass from atop the singed rosemary. Add ice and strained gin mixture to the glass. Top with Topo Chico and garnish with lemon and singed rosemary sprig.
Smoked Rosemary Simple Syrup
Ingredients
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
Zest of one lemon
1 fresh rosemary sprig
Instructions
Combine sugar, water and lemon zest in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved (do not quite bring to a boil). Remove from heat. Burn the end of the rosemary sprig, carefully, on a plate, until smoking. Drop the smoking sprig into the saucepan and simmer, covered for about 15 minutes. Strain, cool and add to cocktail. Remaining syrup can be refrigerated for up to a week.