Shake up your bartending skills with the Red Herring cocktail recipe! This deliciously complex drink features Gin 23rd Street, Brandy Cherry Vok, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and a surprising twist of coffee brew. All served over ice in a classic rocks glass. Impress your guests with this unique and flavorful concoction. Perfect for the aspiring bartender looking to up their game!
Red Herring Ingredients
- 30 ml Gin 23rd Street
- 15 ml Brandy Cherry Vok
- 15 ml Lemon juice
- 10 ml Sugar Syrup
- 10 ml Coffee Brew
- 100 ml Ice
Red Herring Equipment
- shaker with strainer - get rid of large pieces of ingredients (ex: fruit parts, seeds)
- juicer, squeezer manual or automatic - if you mind using fresh juice
Red Herring Recipe
- consider making fresh Lemon juice you can press fruit yourself (be careful - fresh juice stays good only 12 hours)
- fill a shaker half full with ice cubes to chill all the ingredients properly
- shake till perfectly chilled
- prepare Rocks glass full with ice cubes
Recommend: serve in Rocks glass
It's also called a "lowball", "whiskey" or "old-fashioned" glass. The bottom of old-fashioned glass is thick. Rocks glasses carry between 6 and 8 ounces.The Red Herring: A Classic Cocktail with a Twist
As a professional bartender, I’ve always been fascinated by classic cocktails and the stories behind them. Today, I want to share with you the history and recipe of one of my favorite drinks: the Red Herring. This cocktail has been around for over a century and has undergone several variations over the years. In this article, I will cover the drink’s popularity, ingredients, variations, and common mistakes when making it.
Popularity
The Red Herring is a classic cocktail that has been around since the 19th century. Its origins are unclear, but some sources suggest that it was first created in the United States. The drink is famous for its unique flavor profile, which combines the bitterness of coffee with the sweetness of cherry brandy and sugar syrup.
The Red Herring has gained popularity over the years and is now a staple in many bars across the world. Its popularity can be attributed to its unique taste, which is both refreshing and complex. The drink’s appearance is also noteworthy, with its deep red color and garnish of lemon peel.
Ingredients
The Red Herring is a complex cocktail that requires several ingredients. Here’s what you will need:
- 30 ml Gin 23rd Street
- 15 ml Brandy Cherry Vok
- 15 ml Lemon juice
- 10 ml Sugar Syrup
- 10 ml Coffee Brew
- 100 ml Ice
Each ingredient plays a specific role in the drink’s flavor profile. The gin provides a strong base, while the cherry brandy and lemon juice add sweetness and acidity, respectively. The sugar syrup helps to balance out the bitterness of the coffee brew, which adds a unique flavor to the mix.
How to Garnish
Garnishing is an essential part of making cocktails, and the Red Herring is no exception. The traditional garnish for this drink is a lemon peel. To garnish your Red Herring, simply peel a strip of lemon skin and twist it over the drink to release the oils. Then, drop the peel into the glass.
Variations
The Red Herring is a versatile cocktail that can be adapted to suit different tastes and dietary requirements. Here are some variations you can try:
Virgin/Mocktail version
To make a virgin version of the Red Herring, simply leave out the gin and brandy. You can replace them with a non-alcoholic gin alternative and a cherry-flavored syrup.
Gluten-free version
All of the ingredients in the Red Herring are gluten-free, so you don’t need to make any substitutions.
Vegan version
The Red Herring is already vegan, so no substitutions are needed.
Keto version
To make a keto-friendly version of the Red Herring, replace the sugar syrup with a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol or stevia.
Low-calorie version
To make a low-calorie version of the Red Herring, reduce the amount of sugar syrup and cherry brandy. You can also use a low-calorie sweetener instead of sugar syrup.
Common Mistakes when making
Here are some common mistakes people make when making the Red Herring:
- Using low-quality ingredients: The Red Herring requires high-quality ingredients to achieve its unique flavor profile. Don’t skimp on the gin, brandy, or coffee brew.
- Not measuring ingredients: The exact measurements of each ingredient are crucial to achieving the perfect balance of flavors in the Red Herring. Don’t eyeball it – use a jigger or measuring cup to ensure accuracy.
- Over-shaking the drink: When shaking the Red Herring, be careful not to over-shake it. This can cause the ice to melt too quickly and dilute the drink.
- Using the wrong glassware: The Red Herring is traditionally served in a rocks glass. Using a different type of glass can affect the drink’s flavor and appearance.
In conclusion, the Red Herring is a classic cocktail with a unique flavor profile that has stood the test of time. With the variations and tips I’ve provided, you can customize this drink to suit your taste and dietary requirements. Just remember to use high-quality ingredients, measure your ingredients accurately, and serve it in the right glassware. Cheers!
If you are going to order Red Herring in a bar, don’t forget to mention all the ingredients to the bartender. Red Herring can be served with different ingredients in different places.
