I can’t believe it’s already been 12 days! I hope the holidays have put a smile on your face and this last stretch leaves you well fed and with a nice buzz. I also hope you’ve found some fun recipes to add to your cocktail repertoire! In the past 12 days you’ve probably learned some of the things for which I have an affinity: savory cocktail combinations, orange peels for garnish and puns. Well, here is one more little tidbit for you – I LOVE BRUNCH! Brunch is one of those magical times where there are no rules. You can have as many beverages as you like: coffee, Bloody Mary, OJ, Mimosa (I personally like to a build a wall of beverages with a minimum of 3 drinks at all times). You can eat sweet and savory together without a care in the world. The first cocktail I ever swooned over was a Bloody Mary, which has lead to a real nostalgia for brunch cocktails. Today’s cocktail recipe is the brunch drink I’ll be serving for my sweet, loud, crazy family and I cannot wait. This is one of those recipes that seemed too crazy to work (but I love when crazy pans out to be delicious). It’s a sweet and potent take on the classic screwdriver that combines a fig coffee syrup and orange juice (yes, you read that right). I promise it’s worth a try.
FIG COFFEE SYRUP:
1 cup brewed coffee
1/4 tsp of vanilla extract.
1 cup light brown sugar
12 dried black mission figs
Peel of one orange
METHOD: In a medium sauce pan add brewed coffee and sugar, stir until sugar dissolves, then add figs and orange peel. Bring up to a boil and then reduce heat. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat and pour entire contents into mason jar, leave at room temperature for at least 3 hours to allow figs to plump up from syrup and to continue infusing syrup with all that figgy goodness. Strain syrup into another jar leaving a quarter of the jar free to store figs. You can also pour more coffee in with the figs. Store the syrup and figs in fridge.
FIGGY SMALLS:
GLASSWARE: rocks glass
GARNISH: coffee infused fig
1 ½ oz vodka
1 oz fig coffee syrup
4 oz orange juice
Build in a shaker tin; add all ingredients, then ice. Shake well and pour entire contents into glass. Garnish, kick your feet up and enjoy.
PARTY TIP: So that you aren’t shaking this cocktail to order, you can pre-batch and pour into a large empty orange juice bottle. Just leave enough room so that you can shake vigorously every time you pour one over ice.
DOUBLE AGENT: Reheat syrup and figs, or create a batch strictly to put on top of waffles. Oh my!
Thank you so much for allowing me to share some fun recipes to make at home, and I hope it has made your holiday brighter and a little more stress free. Stay tuned for a new cocktail list at Metropole next month – we have some exciting beverages we’re diligently working on (and tasting!). I honestly missed having Sunday School this month, but am so thrilled to see everyone at next month’s Bitters class! Happy Holidays to everyone, and we’ll keep your bar stools warm until next time.
Cheers and warmest wishes,
Your neighborhood bartender,
Catherine Manabat