Enchanted Forest Cocktail

Makes one cocktail or spirit-free beverage  plus extra syrup.

Our wild Balsam Sugar is made from balsam fir tips harvested from mid-coast Maine in spring. The tips are bright green and tender at this stage, with incredible citrus flavor. This cocktail (and the spirit-free spritz) is as festive as it gets, so enjoy its ephemeral beauty and savor the spice of the North woods. 

For the wild balsam syrup:
3 tablespoons Balsam Sugar
3 tablespoons boiling water

Put the sugar and water into a cup and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

For the cocktail:
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce wild balsam syrup (see below)

Put all the cocktail ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake for ten seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass.

For the spirit-free spritz:
¼ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce wild balsam syrup
4 ounces plain seltzer

Put lemon juice and syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake for ten seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe or low ball glass. Top up with the seltzer and stir once.

Note: If you’d like to make a batch of cocktails to share, use the entire two-ounce jar of sugar and an equal volume of water to make enough syrup for seven drinks.