Maple Rosemary Twist
By Emma
Certified Culinary Professional
•
Recipe tested & approved
A sharp herbal cocktail with apple vermouth, gin, lemon juice, and a hint of maple syrup. Rimmed glass with rosemary-infused sugar and crowned with cold maple taffy for a touch of sweetness. Uses crushed rosemary to release aroma. Garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs. A refreshing, zesty mix, balancing floral and sweet notes with a subtle herbal bite.
Prep:
10 min
Cook:
12 min
Total:
22 min
Servings:
1 serving
#cocktail
#herbal
#refreshing
Maple sweet, rosemary sharp, lemon bright. Vermouth apple hints ghost under gin’s crisp bite. Ice crushed to powder, cool and dense. Glass rimmed, sticky sugar with piney sparkle. Taffy cold, melty slow. Mix. Shake hard—herbs crushed, scents burst. Pour through fine sieve. Garnish with woody twigs and maple stick. Sip slow, taste layers unfold. Refreshing, green, woody sweet with tart lemon shake. Wooden aroma lingers after the last drop. Simple ingredients. Complex dance. Herbal, sweet, citrus weaving quick song in glass. No fluff or filler. Just parts talking. Let herbs talk loud.
Ingredients
Rosemary Sugar
- 20 ml sugar
- 1 ml finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 lemon wedge
Cocktail
- 2 small rosemary sprigs, 3 cm length
- 50 ml white apple vermouth
- 40 ml dry gin
- 20 ml fresh lemon juice
- 12 ml pure maple syrup
- Crushed ice (see note)
- Cold maple taffy stick to taste
About the ingredients
Sugar mixed with rosemary finely chopped makes sharp sweet crust around glass edge. Lemon juice helps sugar stick and adds sour brightness. Using white apple vermouth adds fruity depth, not overpowering but subtle fruity undercurrent. Gin swapped with dry, herbal forward style for stronger botanical notes. Mapping syrup reduced slightly, not too sweet, just balance woodsy touch. Rosemary sprigs short, easy to muddle and also to use as aromatic garnish. Crushed ice finer than cubes melts slow, holds chill with texture. Maple taffy stick cold, slowly melting adds slow drip of sweetness, fun and unique touch replacing usual stir sticks or lemon twists.
Method
Rosemary Sugar
- 1. Mix sugar and fresh rosemary in a shallow dish.
- 2. Rub lemon wedge around rim of a whisky glass (lowball).
- 3. Press glass rim into rosemary sugar to coat evenly. Set aside.
Cocktail
- 4. In a shaker, place 1 rosemary sprig.
- 5. Pour in apple vermouth, gin, lemon juice, and maple syrup.
- 6. Lightly muddle rosemary to release oils. Shake hard for 20 seconds.
- 7. Fill rimmed glass with crushed ice.
- 8. Add remaining rosemary sprig and cold maple taffy stick to glass.
- 9. Strain cocktail through fine mesh strainer into glass over ice and garnish.
- 10. Serve immediately.
Cooking tips
Start by preparing rosemary sugar to create aromatic coating on glass rim. Mix sugar and rosemary well so flavor distributes. Lemon wedge rubbed liberally to wet rim, press in sugar mix evenly. Setting rimmed glass aside lets sugar set while making cocktail. Add fresh sprig into shaker with liquids to bruise leaves gently, not pulverize, releasing bright piney notes. Shake vigorously enough to chill and mix without over bruising herbs. Strain over crushed ice to maintain texture and cooling sensation. Garnishing with fresh sprig plus maple taffy stick adds aroma and slow sweetness release as drinking. Serve immediately to enjoy aromatic rim and freshest herbal flavor. Using fine strainer keeps bits out, smooth sip while letting aromas on garnish shine. Crush ice just before use for best freshness and texture.
Chef's notes
- 💡 Crush ice right before use. Finer ice melts slower. Less dilution. Keeps the drink colder. Good texture for sipping. Makes the drink feel chill.
- 💡 Rosemary sugar is key. Mix finely chopped rosemary with sugar. Do it well. Makes rim flavorful. Lemon juice sticks. Sweet and sharp contrast.
- 💡 Shake hard, but not too long. Just twenty seconds. Helps release oils. Muddle gently for flavors. Don't obliterate rosemary. Light pressure works.
- 💡 Fresh rosemary sprigs are great for garnish. Serves double purpose. Aromatic and pretty. Adds herbal scent to drink. Use short sprigs, easy.
- 💡 Maple taffy stick is fun. Replaces traditional garnish. Melts slowly. Drips sweetness. Unique twist for cocktail. Get creative with flavors too.
Common questions
How to adjust sweetness in the drink?
Add more maple syrup for sweetness. Or cut down on it. Change balance according to taste.
Best way to store leftover cocktail?
Drink immediately for best flavor. Can chill for later. Shake well to mix before serving.
Can I swap apple vermouth?
Yes, other flavored vermouths work. But can change drink profile. Try different flavors, see how it goes.
What's ideal serving glass?
Use lowball whisky glass. Holds ice and drink well. Keeps the chill longer, supports rim decoration too.
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