Gettin Figgy With It
Since the start of the year I have been riding the wave of creativity that I have been exploring ways to release some of that energy back into the cocktail world. Each month I have picked a subject to dive into because I am a student for life, always looking for new information. One area I dove into was vermouths- how it’s made, its origins, and the roles they can take in cocktails. This interest inspired me last month as I entered a cocktail competition and wanted to use some of my newfound passion into my presentation.
Rellies Hospitality partnered with Uncle Nearest Whiskey to have a “Battle of the Cities” style cocktail competition for the title “Mixologist of the Year Award”. The format is simple: compete against some of your city’s top bartenders, claim the city champ, and battle it out against the other city’s winner to claim the title. The theme in Chicago was called “A Night in the Windy City” and you had to use Uncle Nearest 1884.
When it comes to Uncle Nearest, I am familiarized with the brand. I have been to the distillery a couple times and got to experience the hospitality of the brand and learn the story of Nate “Nearest” Green. I have developed a great appreciation for the 1884 expression. I always get lighter notes of honey, white floral notes, and a hint of earthy spices. With that on my mind, I had the romantic thoughts in my mind and I want to take the theme of “A Night in the Windy City” and up the ante and make it a “Date Night in the Windy City”.
Immediately, I had the idea to highlight my neighborhood of Logan Square and pay homage to some of my favorite spots that are perfect for dates. The goal was to highlight some of the bars and local businesses each step of the process. It was a perfect blend of the Asian, Caribbean, and Latin flavors you can find on just Milwaukee Street alone!
Gettin’ Figgy With It
1.75oz Uncle Nearest 1884
.25oz Sorel
.25oz Earl Grey Creama infused Dolin Blanc Vermouth*
.25oz Homemade Chai Fig Syrup
3 dashes of Mole Bitters blend
1 bar spoon of pear balsamic bitters
Stir this in a mixing glass with ice for 20 seconds and pour into your glass with no ice. Dehydrated fig bite to garnish*
“Gettin’ Figgy With It”- The name alone reveals my love for music and that I’m a man who loves puns. The ingredients combine whiskey, vermouth, tea, mole spices, and Caribbean spices with allure in mind.
When I created this I knew what flavors I wanted to include but the trickiest part was finding the right ratios to highlight the sponsor’s spirit. Sorel is an award-winning liqueur created by Jackie Summers. The flavors are intensely filled with hibiscus, ginger, baking spices among dozens more. The flavors remind me of the Creole soul food of Ina Mae, just outside of Logan Square. The vibe is chill, with seafood and Cajun spices you can find New Orleans cuisine. It’s a great date spot with entertainment.
The mandatory inclusion of tea makes me want to highlight two of my favorite places to source ingredients from: Rare Tea Cellars (RTC) and Spice House The Earl Grey Creama infused Dolin Blanc vermouth gave me a fuller body and tannins that I needed to make the drink complex. It reminded me of Bixi Beer, an Asian American fusion restaurant that’s also a brewery and they are known to use Asian teas in their beer recipes.
That’s why I found the house made Chai Fig syrup a fun trial and error process. I started by toasting cinnamon sticks, black peppercorn, and green cardamom, using cane sugar as the source for sweetener here.Trying this first with coconut sugar first, I found the flavor profile was overpowered by the chocolate, coffee-esque it offers. Instead of using water in the syrup, it was made with chai tea- thanks to Spice House! Then I added a little salt, rose hips and obviously fig slices.
Again, the ingredients here are very bold stars that demand the spotlight on stage but I found the ratios to make it more of an ensemble to compliment each other. One piece gave the body that was needed for a stirred cocktail. Another gave the spices to balance the sweetness from it’s co-stars and the there’s a little heat spice with mole bitters- flavors found in some street tacos I can get from the food truck outside some bars after hours.
But with all that and I still found the result was a little flat. Too stubborn- and on a deadline, I had to make it work!. It needed it to be brighter. It needed acid. And boom! I added a hint of pear balsamic vinegar and brought everything together perfectly. Or should I say…Pearfectly? .
It’s a stirred drink. It’s full of a few aphrodisiacs to set the mood. A nightcap, like something you would get at your final stop of the night. Spilt Milk vibes for sure! It’s a Logan Square bar that’s perfect to end your night, because it’s got the elegant vibe that encourages witty banter and smirks.
At the end of the night, “Gettitn Figgy With It” tells your date you're having a fun time and not afraid to be silly and yet gives you the flavors of a more mature palate that lets your date know you can be a long term option. Wink wink. It highlighted the floral notes of Uncle Nearest 1884, while playing with tea, spices, and a hint of chocolate. The small bit it comes with showcases each of those flavors. You’ll find the Chai fig syrup was used to make a wild berry frosting. A sprinkle of kombu sea salt for the element of umami and cut the sweetness. Bruleed sugar for a smokey texture journey and finished with shaved chocolate, rose hips, and tea flower petals. It. was the balance to your drink, symbolizing the similarities and differences you and your partner have.
I am proud of this drink because I challenged myself to tell a story. One could even say this drink… slaps…
Even though I did not win the title that night, this is a cocktail that I will save and make again in the future. Looking forward to future challenges!
Cheers!
*Earl Grey Creama infused Dolin Blanc vermouth: 15 grams of Rare Tea Cellars to 750 Dolin Blanc vermouth. Let sit at room temperature for 45 mins and strain.