Now that summer has landed – with both feet! – it’s time for something that will cut through the sludge and refresh without being sweet or sappy. This confection, from Francophile, David Lebovitz’s, excellent book, Drinking French, is just the ticket.
Like so many of my favorite cocktails, it’s a sweet-sour combo. But unlike most others, this one leans toward the sour. Arresting! And delicious! Especially at the end of a long, hot day when you feel like you want to slip into a coma for a couple of weeks rather than go on living.
Simple: four ingredients, in equal measure, living together (in your glass, until you drink it) in harmony. Hence the name.
Gin, Grand Marnier, Lillet, and lemon. How French! How refreshing! How deluxe!
Ménage à Quatre
Equal parts:
Gin
Grand Marnier (Another good choice would be Mandarine Napoleon, or if you prefer something a bit sweeter, Cointreau)
Lillet – that luscious softly sweet aperitif
Lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. A lemon peel makes a nice garnish.