Shoot that poison arrow through my he-aaart, Shoot that poison arrow! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, The Cupid’s Arrow Champagne Cocktail arrives ready to slay the object of your affection. Just like your blush, the cocktail changes its completion from white to rosy red. (There’s another song in there, isn’t there?)
Delightfully sweet but deliciously complex, this layered cocktail is not only fun to look at, but yummy as it goes down. The last sip is the sweetest, but gently earthy with a mysterious hint of rosemary. Intriguing. May I have another?
Step one: make a ruby-red simple
Okay, Hipcooks: roll up your sleeves and let’s get slaying, erm, cooking! As we’ve said (and now we repeat): the most interesting cocktails aren’t made at your bar, but rather where the bar intersects the kitchen. Let’s begin crafting this cocktail at the stove.
You all know a simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, brought to a boil to forever suspend the sugar in a liquid state. Here, rather than using water, we’ll use a bright red juice. We’ll boil it with sugar to make a sweet, concentrated syrup. And because we’re Hipcooks, we know: Herbs are Essential. Toss in a nice handful of rosemary leaves when you add the sugar, and you’ll be rewarded with a sweet simple syrup that is: unique, mysterious, earthy, intriguing, slightly addicting. Just like you, right?
Step two: your gin layer
Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Lemon and gin are a match made in heaven, so introduce them to each other in a cocktail shaker filled with plenty of ice, and give ’em a dance party.
Once you’ve added a layer of ruby-red simple to a cocktail flute, add the gin and lemon. What? You prefer vodka? What’s wrong with you? (Just kidding! Use vodka instead. It’s all good.)
My champagne flutes are dainty (see picture below): the gin and lemon mixture comes up about halfway up the glass when it’s all said and done. Your mileage may vary, but anywhere from about a third to halfway up and you’re golden.
Step 3: Your Cupid’s Arrow Champagne Cocktail is ready to slay
The final touch: top with bubbly and garnish with your arrow. Aim for the heart, baby.
Ingredients
For the ruby-red simple syrup:
½ cup sugar
½ cup cranberry, pomegranate, or cherry juice
3 sprigs rosemary (a nice handful of rosemary leaves)
For each cocktail:
1 ounce ruby-red simple syrup
1 ounce lemon
1 ounce gin (We recommend St George's Terroir Gin)
champagne, to top up (anywhere from 2 -3 ounces)
garnish: rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds
Instructions
Make the simple syrup:
Bring the sugar, juice, and rosemary to a boil, simmer for a few minutes, and then turn off the heat. Allow it to cool in the pot: the rosemary will continue to infuse. Strain the syrup and chill. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Make the cocktail:
Pour a small shot of syrup into two champagne flutes (about 1 ounce in each.) Add the gin and lemon to a cocktail shaker, top with ice and shake, shake, shake. Strain into the flutes. Next, add the champagne and garnish with the arrow: a tufty rosemary skewer with a cranberry (or cherry, or Amarena cherry, or pomegranate aril) on the end.
Hipcooks Gift Certificates
The cocktail is fab, but if you really want to seal the deal, say “I love you” with a Hipcooks Gift Certificate.
Our Gift Certificates never expire and they are redeemable for both Virtual and in-person classes. Order yours here. Thank you for your support — especially in these times. You rock our world, and we’re grateful.
