Dark Hedges

Name: Dark Hedges
Ingredients: 1.5 oz cacao nib-infused Old Tom gin; 1.0 oz pineapple juice; 0.75 oz lemon juice; 0.5 oz dark crème de cacao; 0.5 tsp Branca Menta; 0.25 oz demerara syrup

From Abby Butler (The Tatarian, Denver)

shakenrocks

complex

Ingredients

1.5 ozcacao nib-infused Old Tom gin
1 ozpineapple juice
0.75 ozlemon juice
0.5 ozdark crème de cacao
0.5 tspBranca Menta
0.25 ozdemerara syrup

Garnish: cacao nibs

Preparation

1.
To make the cacao-nib infused gin, toast ½ cup of cacao nibs in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant, then combine with a 750ml bottle of Old Tom gin in a large, sealable container. Let the mixture infuse for 12-24 hours, then strain and bottle for use. Keeps indefinitely, though the flavor's intensity may fade over time.
2.
Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a double Old Fashioned glass filled with ice and garnish with a sprinkle of cacao nibs.

Notes

Taking its name from an eerily beautiful avenue of historic beech trees in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, this cocktail is bold and intriguing with cacao nib-infused Old Tom gin, and Branca Menta and crème de cacao balancing bitter and sweet.