This week’s Joyful Hour represents a return to sophistication, born out of that refined feeling that bubbles up whilst you’re sipping a finely crafted libation. The Drawing Room is designed to be savored.
Alan Walter, head mixologist for Loa Bar in New Orleans, combines Redbreast Irish Whisky, rose liqueur, Elisir M. P. Roux natural liqueur, watermelon syrup, cayenne pepper and a splash of bitters to construct the Drawing Room. The result’s a posh, cosmopolitan cocktail (no, not that Cosmopolitan cocktail).
Assume watermelon syrup sounds too fussy? Make one batch and also you’ll be hooked. The watermelon provides a pure sweetness that’s balanced out by cinnamon and star anise, so the syrup isn’t overly heavy—good for these just-before-summer days.
It’s candy. It’s savory. It’s spicy. It’s superior.
Drawing Room
What you’ll want:
4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
½ cup cane sugar
Sprint cayenne pepper
Pinch salt
3 items star anise
2 cinnamon sticks
1.5 oz Redbreast Irish Whiskey
.25 oz Crispin’s Rose Liqueur
.25 oz Elisir M.P. Roux
Sprint Angostura Bitters
Lemon peel
make it:
1. Make the watermelon syrup. Puree the watermelon in a blender or meals processor. Add the purée and sugar to a saucepan and simmer over medium warmth. As soon as the combination begins to cut back, about 5 minutes, add the cayenne pepper, salt, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. Proceed to simmer till the combination reduces by about 1/3, about 10 to fifteen minutes. Take away from warmth, pressure by a positive mesh strainer and chill.
2. Stir 1 tsp watermelon syrup, the liquor, and the bitters, with giant ice cubes to relax in a mixing glass. Pour right into a coupe. Twist lemon peel over drink to precise the lemon oils within the glass. Discard the twist and serve.
