Atlanta-based bartender Paul Calvert mimics the flavor profile and appearance of a springtime rosé in his Pink Rabbit, made of equal parts gin, vermouth and rooibos tea and finished with a splash of lemon. The simple proportions and assembly allow this recipe to be easily scaled up for a party-sized punch or, alternatively, stretched further with a topper of sparkling wine or tonic.
Pink Rabbit
Paul Calvert, Ticonderoga Club | Atlanta
Ingredients
Serving: 1
- 1 ounce gin, preferably Bombay or Bimini
- 1 ounce blanc vermouth, preferably Yzaguirre Blanc
- 1 ounce rooibos tea (see Editor's Note)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Garnish: orange peel, expressed and discarded
Directions
- Combine all ingredients and stir briefly with ice to chill, taking care not to over-dilute the mixture.
- Strain into a wine glass.
- Express an orange peel over the drink and discard.
Editor's Note
To make the rooibos tea: Bring 12 ounces of water to a boil. Once boiling, remove the pot from the heat and wait a minute before combining the water with a level tablespoon of good quality, loose-leaf rooibos tea. Allow the tea to steep for 10 to 12 minutes—an intentionally long steep designed to coax the bright tannins out of the tea leaf. Strain the tea through a wire mesh strainer, making sure to press all of the water from the solids. Cover the tea and place it in the refrigerator until chilled. The tea can be made up to 48 hours in advance.