Strange Vines Recipe
El Gobernador Pisco, pineapple weed, verjus, hop & pineapple rind oleo, sparkling wine
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Ingredients
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Base spirit & modifiers
Sparkling & finishing
Prep for components (makes ~4 oz infusion / 2 oz oleo saccharum)
Method
Prep: Pineapple weed infusion
Cold infusion (quick)
Place 2 tablespoons pineapple weed and 4 oz neutral spirit (vodka) in a sealed jar. Let sit at room temperature for 2–4 hours, tasting every 30–60 minutes to avoid overextraction; when floral-green aroma is pronounced but not bitter, strain through fine mesh and/or coffee filter. You should yield about 3.5–4 oz flavored spirit. Chill and reserve. (Alternatively, steep 10–20 minutes in 120°F water for a quicker, lighter infusion, then cool and strain.)
Prep: Hop & pineapple rind oleo saccharum
Make the oleo saccharum
Place 1 cup finely chopped pineapple rind and 1 tsp fresh hop tips in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup sugar and muddle/press the mixture firmly so sugar pulls oils from the rind and hops. Let macerate for 20–30 minutes, occasionally pressing to extract more oil and juice. After maceration, fold in 2 tbsp (approx. 1 oz) of the pineapple-weed infused vodka prepared above to help solubilize aromatics, then press through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Collect the strained oily syrup (oleo saccharum). You should have roughly 0.5–1 oz; measure and adjust recipe amounts as needed. Store refrigerated up to 5 days.
Cocktail assembly
Add 2 oz El Gobernador Pisco, 1/2 oz verjus, 1/2 oz pineapple weed infusion, and 1/4 oz hop & pineapple rind oleo saccharum into a cocktail shaker.
Add one cup of ice and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Top gently with 2.5 oz chilled dry sparkling wine, pouring slowly down the side to preserve effervescence.
Take the fresh pineapple rind and hold it over the drink; using a microplane or by expressing, lightly press to release oils from the rind over the surface, then rub the rind around the glass rim and drop it in as garnish. If available, nest a small fresh hop tip on the foam or float it on the surface for an aromatic touch.
Serve immediately.
Notes & adjustments
If you prefer less floral intensity, reduce pineapple weed infusion to 1/4 oz and replace with 1/4 oz neutral spirit or increase verjus by 1/4 oz for brightness. Oleo saccharum is concentrated — use sparingly and taste. Verjus provides gentle acidity; if unavailable, substitute with 1/2 oz fresh white grape juice plus 1/4 tsp lemon juice.
