West Wind Recipe
gin, blood orange, lime, fig leaf, rose, bubbles
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Fig Leaf Syrup (makes ~6 oz)
Method
Fig Leaf Syrup (prepare ahead, optional)
- 1
Combine and simmer
In a small saucepan combine 1 cup water and 1 cup granulated sugar. Add the rinsed, torn fig leaves. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Maintain a very gentle simmer for 8–10 minutes to extract aroma without bitterness.
- 2
Cool and strain
Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, steeping for an additional 10–15 minutes if you want a stronger fig-leaf aroma. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container, pressing gently on leaves to extract liquid. Discard solids.
- 3
Store
Refrigerate the syrup in an airtight container. It will keep 10–14 days. Use 0.5 oz per cocktail as called for in the recipe.
Cocktail Assembly
- 4
- 5
Combine base ingredients
In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh blood orange juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz fig leaf syrup, and 3 drops rose water. Add a handful of ice (about 1 cup).
- 6
Shake
Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until the shaker is cold to the touch and well chilled. This both chills and lightly dilutes the mixture.
- 7
Strain
Discard ice from the chilled glass if used. Double-strain the shaken mixture into the chilled coupe or a rocks glass (if you prefer more body) using a hawthorne and fine mesh strainer to remove pulp and small ice shards.
- 8
Top with bubbles
Carefully top the cocktail with 2 oz dry sparkling wine. Pour slowly down a spoon or tilt the glass slightly to preserve carbonation and create a gentle layering effect.
- 9
Garnish and aromatics
Float a thin wheel of blood orange on the surface. Gently clap a fresh fig leaf between your hands once or twice and hold it near the glass so its aroma rises above the drink (do not drop it in unless you want a vegetal note). Optionally add one more tiny drop of rose water on top of the foam for a fragrant accent.
- 10
Serve
Serve immediately while sparkling wine is lively. Sip and notice the interplay of citrus, floral rose, subtle fig-leaf greenness, and the gin's botanicals.
