Between Two Trees

PUNCH | Brooklyn, NY

between the trees cocktail recipe

In honor of Angel’s Envy’s #toastthetrees—in which the brand is pledging to plant 20,000 new oak trees this spring, along with adapting cocktail recipes to generate less waste—we’ve created a mashup of two essential whiskey classics.

Our Between Two Trees can be thought of two ways: a New York Sour in an Old-Fashioned build, with the port finish on the Angel’s Envy bourbon replacing the red wine float and our house lemon cordial replacing lemon juice; or a low-waste homage to the muddled fruit Old-Fashioned, with Angel’s Envy contributing a cherry note and orange bitters standing in for a fresh orange wheel.

However you view it, our intent was to remove fresh ingredients from the drink without sacrificing bite and freshness. We did so by creating a lemon cordial comprised of leftover lemon husks, sugar, water and citric acid. It not only employs an ingredient that would normally be tossed out, but it gives the drink both sweetness and a kick of acidity to brighten it.

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 2 ounces Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Finish
  • 2 ounces Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Finish
  • 1/4 ounce lemon cordial (See Editor's Note)
  • 1/4 ounce lemon cordial (See Editor's Note)
  • 1 dash Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6
  • 1 dash Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6
  • 1 dash Dr Adam Elmegirab's Dandelion & Burdock Bitters
  • 1 dash Dr Adam Elmegirab's Dandelion & Burdock Bitters

Directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
  2. Add ice, and stir until chilled.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube.
Editor's Note

Lemon Cordial
8 ounces leftover lemon husks
8 ounces caster sugar
8 ounces water
1/4 ounce citric acid powder

Put the spent citrus husks in a bowl and pour the sugar over the husks. Muddle the sugar into the citrus to release the oils. Cover and leave it in a cool place, overnight if possible or at least for a few hours. Add the water and stir until the sugar is dissolved, then let it rest for an hour or so. Strain off the liquid through a coffee filter placed over a funnel into a jug. Add citric acid powder, and stir to dissolve. Transfer to a 750ml bottle, seal and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Note that all measurements are by weight.