This Summer I have an overabundance of rosemary, so, I made rosemary syrup because everyone seems to rave about it, but of course when I go to do a search, I don’t find much on it except for cocktails that call for lemon and/or gin. IN the PDT App there is a cocktail called Rosemary Society, but naturally I was out of pear brandy (I have some pear liqueur but I could not even find that). So, the question is, what do to with all this rosemary other than fresh garnishes? How long will it last in a simple syrup in the fridge? What cocktails are especially complimentary? I tried this tonight, it was good, but honestly did not taste the rosemary:
1/2 ounce Italicus liqueur
1.5 ounces Plymouth Gin
.5 lemon juice
.5 rosemary simple syrup (3 long/large sprigs in 1:1 sugar/water syrup)
Not bad, but again, lacking the rosemary I was hoping to taste in it.
How about trying to infuse the fresh rosemary for a few days in a good vodka, then making a ‘liqueur’ with that, starting with 2:1 spirit to syrup. Would probably bring more of the flavor out.
I’d check after a few hours, then the next morning. From my experience, rosemary is funny in that it goes from savory to bitter on a dime.
Just my two cents.
The pyromaniac in me likes the Rubicon, which involves setting a rosemary sprig on fire with Green Chartreuse.
(Though if you’re like me your surfeit of rosemary might be accompanied by a dearth of Chartreuse…)
There are some ideas at Kindred Cocktails, though I don’t think I’ve tried any of them.