Friday, August 08, 2008

Brilliant cocktail: the Sungold Zinger.

Last night, when I met a friend for drinks at Range I was fully prepared to order my usual Junipero gin martini -up-with-grapefruit-twist. Yay for well stocked bars. I'd been thinking about it this twist for hours, how the whiff of citrus oil floats across the first sip.

The Range bartenders are amazing, and their specials menu is always worth a gander. You should never, ever go there though. You'll take up all the seats at my 'private' bar and I'll be sad. My fantasy martini never had a chance, as the special menu listed a Sungold Zinger. Perhaps you're not aware that it's Yellow Tomato Week at Rachel. I watched the bartender make them all night, enchanted. I also drank a glass of rosato, a bourbon-based Bit-O-Honey, some bitters, and a glass of champagne. I should have just drank four more Sungold Zingers.

Please make these at home and don't crowd up my neighborhood bar. Thanks.

Sungold Zinger
3-4 Sungold cherry tomatoes
Pinch of sea salt
2 tsp agave surup
2 oz 209 gin
Ice

In a shaker, muddle tomatoes with sea salt. Add agave syrup, gin, and enough ice to fill the shaker. Shake like crazy. Strain through a fine strainer into a martin glass and garnish with a Sungold.

4 comments:

xxxxx said...

'Sungold' is my favorite tomato. Gin, on the other hand, and I never got along.
You are some brave chiquita.

Anonymous said...

Made it this weekend and love it but can't resist tuning it to amp up the savory / summer aspect. Muddled the tomatoes with purple basil and either cut down the agave (the tomatoes add plenty of sweetness for my taste) or substitute a splash of x. dry vermouth (I know, so obvious) or other herbaceous extraction / infusion (basil or rosemary essence, etc). It's not quite there yet, but what could be more fun to experiment with. Thanks for posting.

Anita (Married... with dinner) said...

I love these, but I think you're missing the lemon

polly conway said...

Whoa! This sounds amazing, and I actually have all the ingredients. Will be testing soon. :)