The Best 5 NYC Cocktails With House-Infused Syrups
House-made ingredients are practically the norm at top notch cocktail dens across the city. These fine places make their own syrups, which add that special detail to your signature cocktail. Gone are the days of sticky, sweet, artificial pre-fab bottled syrups, and, once you try these cocktails, you'll realize precisely why. By Jonathan Pogash
Sleepy Head (Ginger Syrup)
Home-made ginger syrup is an integral ingredient in several of Raines Law Room's specialty cocktails, mainly from their "Tall & Fizzy" section on the menu. The Sleepy Head blends Laird's Bonded Applejack, ginger syrup, fresh lime and lemon juices, and club soda. Why not try the Madame George, as well. The drink has an Irish whiskey base, and a touch of the ginger syrup to round out all of the flavors.
Ladies Mile (Turbinado Syrup)
The Cellar at Beecher's makes hand-made cheese, along with hand-made syrups for their cocktails. The Ladies Mile blends Tito's Vodka, calvados, fresh lime, and turbinado syrup. Turbinado sugar is a brown natural raw sugar used in cooking, and is commonly called Demarara sugar. By dissolving it in hot water, you can make a syrup. This adds a full-bodied flavor and a touch of spice to the cocktail.
Clover Club (Raspberry Syrup)
Smith Street staple Clover Club serves up their signature drink, the aptly named Clover Club cocktail, with a house-made syrup. The traditional recipe calls for raspberry syrup as an integral ingredient, and the folks over at Clover take the drink to a whole new level. To balance out the gin and dry vermouth components, the sweet fruit syrup and fresh lemon juice do their jobs quite well. And the egg white? It adds texture and froth to this tasty treat.
The Sage and Old Fashioned (Sage Syrup)
The Sage and Old Fashioned at Spasso in the West Village is a real treat for the cocktail lover. Combining house-made sage syrup, Elijah Craig bourbon, Angostura and Fee Bros. orange bitters, the cocktail is a relevant and timely riff on the classic. Continuing on with the savory aspect of your evening, order their Lasagna or Risotto with braised pork belly.
The Beekeeper (Chamomile Syrup)
The Beekeeper, a specialty at Fishtag on 79th St., blends Spring 44 Honey Vodka, chamomile syrup, citrus vodka, and sage. According to their menu, which kindly suggests wine/spirit pairings with your food, recommends this cocktail with their first three salmon appetizer selections (Norwegian, Gaspe, and Irish). On their cheese service menu, the first few cheeses, the mildest, do go very nicely with The Beekeeper cocktail. Now go to it!
Jonathan Pogash, aka The Cocktail Guru, is a beverage consultant, writer, and educator.
