Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cocktail
Method
Cocktail
- 1
Prepare thyme simple syrup (optional, ahead)
If you prefer an aromatic syrup rather than floating thyme, make thyme-infused simple syrup ahead: combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, add 2 thyme sprigs, bring to a simmer until sugar dissolves, remove from heat and steep 10 minutes, then cool and strain. Use 0.5 oz of this syrup in the recipe. (If using plain simple syrup, proceed to next step.)
- 2
Place 2 fresh thyme sprigs in the base of a shaker. Add the blood orange juice and lemon juice on top of the thyme.
- 3
Add the simple syrup (or thyme-infused syrup) and gently muddle the thyme with the juices for about 8–10 seconds to release the herb's oils and aroma. Don't over-muddle — just press to bruise the leaves.
- 4
Add 2 oz Plantation rum to the shaker, then add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- 5
Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup), cap it, and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker is very cold and slightly frosted.
- 6
Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice (or a large ice cube). Double-strain the cocktail into the glass through both the shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove thyme bits and small ice shards for a silky texture.
- 7
Garnish by expressing the oils of the blood orange wheel over the drink (give it a squeeze and rub the peel along the rim), then float the wheel on the surface and tuck a fresh thyme sprig alongside it.
- 8
Serve immediately. Before sipping, give the thyme a gentle stir to release more aromatics if desired.