Like Vodka? Try the ‘Gintervention’ Instead

Mixology Monday is everyone’s favorite online cocktail party, in which participants mix up a cocktail per a particular theme. This month’s host is Chris Amirault of eGullet, and the theme is: “Like that? Then you’ll love this!”  From Chris —

Everybody has a friend or colleague whose drink order is invariably a dirty vodka martini or a machine-made margarita or something similarly icky. If you wanted to bring this person to the mixo side, what drink would you utilize that’s close enough to their comfort zone for them to try, but that could still open their eyes to better cocktail experiences?

Basically, some people suck at drinking. But rather than ridiculing one’s habit of ordering Appletinis, dirty vodka martinis and other drinks with a similar suffix, bartenders and enthusiasts the world over are banding together to tweak these drinks. Hopefully, the new drink – one which utilizes quality products, fresh ingredients and classic techniques – will open the drinker’s eyes to a world of good drinking and forever close the door on sugary swill.

I run a pretty tight ship at my home bar, and while I readily bestow my guests with free samples of vodka as parting gifts, I try to sway them toward gin when making cocktails. One of the most popular drinks ordered by a cocktail novice is a vodka and soda. A neutral spirit paired with fizzy water (and, if you’re feeling saucy, a wedge of lime) is a pretty good starting point for a gintervention.

Using a classic riff on both the Tom Collins and Aviation, my Gintervention includes the common ingredients that a vodka and soda drinker knows and loves – soda, citrus and booze. But I swap vodka for gin, add a barspoon of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and a couple dashes of orange bitters. The result is a tasty, refreshing drink that’s similar in appearance to the vodka soda, but more complex and infinitely better.

Gintervention

2 ounces gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
1 barspoon Maraschino Liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
Club Soda

Shake all ingredients except soda with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with a splash of soda, then garnish with a lemon peel.