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Recipe Detail Page
Olive Oil Gimlet
Autumn 2023
Fat-washing is a technique bartenders use to infuse the flavours of everything from bacon fat to browned butter into drinks. Here, extra virgin olive oil brightens the botanicals in gin and gives the cocktail a rich, smooth texture. Choose a grassy, peppery and astringent oil such as Arbequina from Spain, or look for others with high phenolic levels.
Makes 1 drink
2 oz gin
1/2 oz grassy-flavoured extra virgin olive oil, plus more to garnish
1 oz lime juice
1/2 oz Rich Syrup (recipe below)
2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more to garnish
Jumbo cocktail olive to garnish (optional)
1. At least 1 hour before serving, add the gin and oil to a freezer-proof, tightly lidded container (such as a glass jar) and shake thoroughly. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or until the olive oil freezes into solid globules or a layer on top. Using a fine cocktail sieve and working quickly, strain the frozen oil out of the gin and discard it. Keep gin chilled until ready to use.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add oil-washed gin, lime juice, syrup and thyme. Shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled, up to 30 seconds.
3. Strain through a fine cocktail sieve into a coupe or Martini glass and allow drink to settle and slightly clarify. Using a dropper or a tiny spoon, dot the top of the drink with droplets of olive oil and garnish with a cocktail olive and/or sprig of fresh thyme, if desired.
Makes 1 drink
Rich Syrup
This classic variation on simple syrup offers concentrated sweetness using a 2:1 ratio over simple syrup's traditional 1:1.
1 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat. Cool completely. If making ahead, syrup will keep well, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Makes 2 cups
