As we slog through the current heat wave, light and refreshing remains the best concept for cocktail hour - and absolutely nothing does that better than the combination of gin and citrus. So, from the pages of the Cocktail Codex* (a gift from my cocktail comrade, Brian) we offer the Crop Top.
Gin and two citrus flavors – lemon and grapefruit – combine with amaro, to make a zingy, spicy sipper with a gorgeous golden color. It’s an unexpected combination of ingredients, but really effective. Spicy, light, and very refreshing.
BTW, I usually don’t bother to recommend using a specific brand of liquor, but sometimes there’s an exception. There are dozens of amaros on the shelf at a respectable liquor store, and they vary widely in flavor and heaviness. This recipe calls for Amaro Montenegro, lighter and spicier than some of the others. I’d stick with this recommendation for the Crop Top.
Shake up a Crop Top or two at 5:00 pm and wave goodbye to the heat wave. At least for the night ahead.
Crop Top
Equal parts:
Gin
Amaro Montenegro
Pamplemousse (grapefruit) liqueur (I’m using Combier Liqueur de Pamplemousse because that’s what Midtown Corkdorks, my favorite merchant, stocks.)
Lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. A lemon peel makes a nice garnish.
*There are literally thousands of cocktail books out there, and I have at least 100 of them on the shelf, but Cocktail Codex is an especially good one. It goes into the fundamentals and variations on classic themes in a clear and fascinating way. It’s not only well-written, but also gorgeous to look at. Maybe the best book to have if you only have one.