cocktail friday: french gimlet [tartlet]

This is my new favorite cocktail. It’s light, refreshing, and tart. I first discovered a variation of this drink in this book last summer and it was called The Signature LBN Cocktail. Clear liquor is the best for the bod, St-Germain adds a subtle light sweet flavor, and lime adds the perfect tart citrus balance. This version added a little splash of club soda and garnished with mint. I fell in love when I had this.

I ordered it at dinner the other night and gave the proportions to the waiter as: 2 parts Ketel One vodka, 1 part St-Germain, and 1 part lime juice [sans club soda]. The recipe calls for a half part, but I adore fresh, tart lime juice so always double it. The waiter brought it back and said the bartender wanted to know the name. I surely wasn’t going to say the Signature Look Better Naked Cocktail, so I said “call it The Channing”. I finally found the closest match on the St-Germain website as the French Gimlet. With added fruit, I call it the French Tartlet.

french gimlet [+ tartlet]
based on this recipe

[the goods]
2 parts vodka, I like Tito’s or Ketel One
1 part St-Germain
1 part freshly squeezed lime juice
Cucumbers, lime wedges, fruit, for garnish

[do it up]
Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled shaker and shake well, for at least 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe, Martini glass, or over ice in an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with lime and cucumbers. Add fruit to make it extra pretty.

[tartlet bonus]
Add the shaken and strained cocktail into an Old Fashioned glass with no ice. Add a third cup total of cucumbers, blueberries, and pomegranate seeds and let it all infuse in the fridge for a few hours. The cocktail will have a fresh cucumber infused flavor and the fruit will be infused with St-Germain and lime juice. Two goodies in one glass. A tasty treat indeed!

The gold baubles in the first photo are the gold edition Buckyballs from this post. They are confirmed as fun golden toys.

What cocktails will you be enjoying this weekend?

Enjoy and happy weekend! xo♥channing