The Aficionado Cocktail
The Aficionado is a simple yet sophisticated gin and dry vermouth cocktail. Originally developed for Cinzano Extra Dry — make it with your favorite bottles.
Servings: 1 cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 large juicy lemon
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) mild honey
- 2 ounces (60 ml) good gin
- 1 ounce (30 ml) dry vermouth
Instructions
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes until very hot.
- Cut the lemon in half and then cut a 1/4-inch-thick round slice from one half.
- Place the lemon halves and the slice into the pan cut sides down and cook for about three to four minutes, until nicely charred.
- Remove lemon from pan and add thyme sprig. Cook for about a minute, until fragrant, then set aside to cool.
- Squeeze juice from lemon halves through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl.
- Measure out 1 1/2 ounces (45 ml) juice, reserving any extra for another use.
- Stir honey into lemon juice until dissolved.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour in lemon juice mixture, gin, and vermouth and shake well.
- Place a few ice cubes into a single old fashioned glass and strain drink into glass.
- Garnish with charred lemon slice and thyme sprig. (Bruise the thyme with your fingers a bit so its flavors will infuse into the drink.)
Notes
- Start with a good London dry gin. My favorites include Bombay Sapphire, Hendricks, Tanqueray, Drumshanbo, Plymouth, The Botanist, and Aviation. How's that for a wide selection?
- I originally developed this recipe for Cinzano Extra Dry, but you can use any dry vermouth that you like. These days I tend to keep Dolin on hand for its balance of quality and affordability.
- I like to use a run-of-the-mill mild-tasting honey from the supermarket. You can use whatever kind you like.
- You can batch The Aficionado for a party if you like. For eight drinks: Up to two hours before serving time, slice, char, and juice eight lemons according to the instructions in the recipe card below. Stir ½ cup honey into the lemon juice until dissolved. In a pitcher, combine two cups gin, one cup vermouth, the lemon juice mixture, and ½ cup cold water. Place in the fridge to chill. At serving time, pour into ice-filled rocks glasses and garnish each glass with a charred lemon slice and thyme sprig.
- This drink would also be great with a Meyer lemon swapped in for the regular lemon, and rosemary would make an equally lovely swap for the thyme.
Nutrition
Calories: 230kcal
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