Two Classic Drinks with Homemade Grenadine

Having read in a number of places that you really can't make a Jack Rose with fake grenadine (basically red syrup), I bought a bottle of pomegranate juice to make my own.

Grenadine (from Imbibe):
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 cup superfine sugar (which you can make in a food processor or blender)
2 tablespoons pomegranate
2 tablespoons vodka
1 tablespoon orange blossom water (I would dial this back next time)

Stir all ingredients until dissolved.  Refrigerate.

Oddly enough, the orange blossom flavor is very pronounced when the syrup is cold (and consumed alone), but much more muted when the syrup warms up.  It fades into the background when mixed, of course.

While I bought the juice for Jack Roses, I realized I had not applejack and settled on two other classic cocktails from Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, the Monkey Gland and the Scofflaw.

The Monkey Gland
1.5 oz. Bluecoat Gin (buy American!)
1.5 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tsp. Sambuca
1 tsp. grenadine.

Shake over ice and strain into a glass.  Add a few drops of orange bitters.  Nice and herbal and just sweet enough.


The Scofflaw
1.5 oz. rye (I used Redemption)
1 oz. dry vermouth (I used Martini and Rossi Bianco, which is on the sweeter side)
3/4 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 oz. grenadine

Shake over ice and strain into a glass.  This one really lets the pomegranate shine through, but came out a bit sweet.  Would definitely make again, but recommend using the driest vermouth you can find.

More with my new bitters

We went to Acqua al 2 Monday night and had a great dinner and some tasty cocktails, including their take on a spicy lemon drop.  I didn't have any chili cordial to add heat, but the Rhubarb bitters certainly add depth.

Shake over ice and strain:

2 oz Plymouth gin

1 oz Cointreau

3/4 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz home made lime cordial

10 dashes rhubarb bitters

Add a few drops of meyer lemon tincture at the end.