Normally, if I’m going to indulge in a big-girl cocktail, my weapon of choice is a bone dry Bombay Sapphire classic martini, up with olives. It took me a while to acquire a taste for this James Bondian concoction – I too want mine “shaken, not stirred.” A perfect martini can be so much more than a cocktail. It might be relief at the end of a long week, a cloud that lifts you out of a work-weary day, a way to instant warmth on a cold winter day, or a celebration in a stemmed glass. Martinis are the wonderful workhorses of the cocktail world.
But seasons change and acknowledging the advent of the spring and summer months calls for a special libation. This Rosemary Gin Fizz is just the ticket to mark the arrival of warmer weather and longer days. It’s refreshing and earthy with just a hint of sweetness combined with tart citrus notes.
Lately I’ve been experimenting with different brands of gin for this and other cocktails. Here in Portland, Maine craft distilleries have been popping up like daffodils in springtime. I’ve tried the gin offerings from Maine Craft Distilling, New England Distilling, and Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery.
Each of the gins from these talented distillers is unique; you would never mistake one for another. There are notes of blueberry and cranberry in the two Sweetgrass offerings. New England Distilling’s Ingenium gin has citrus and herbal notes with a smooth finish.
Alchemy Dry Gin from Maine Craft Distilling is one of my new favorites. It is infused with juniper, coriander, cardamom, and lemon peel. The distillers describe it as being “perky and floral-forward.” This distillery’s second gin offering is unusual, to say the least. Their Chesuncook Gin is made from…wait for it…carrots. As they say: “As you sip Chesuncook, you'll notice carrots, but you'll also notice juniper, mint, coriander, and a distinct flavor of Maine.”
Here are both the cocktail and mocktail recipes for an exquisite Rosemary Gin Fizz. Cheers!
