The Baracktail
Some things in life are worth celebrating. And it is only proper to toast new beginnings: champagne on the New Year, and the Baracktail on tomorrow's inauguration. As I was creating this, I wanted it to be redolent of Barack Obama, a little tribute in booze. It begins with gin, of Chicago bootlegging fame. Hawaiian hibiscus flowers infuse the syrup that sweetens and stains it. Lime is added for a touch of acerbic rhetoric, and the tang of hard times. And mint, tons of mint, remind us there can always be a very, very fresh start. This cocktail is like spring cleaning: flowers, mint, and citrus to scrub away the dirty past and welcome a clean, fresh beginning.
This drink is strong, sweet, unexpected, innovative, vivacious, and really, really good—just like our 44th president. Here's to something different, and to you, Mr. President. Cheers.
Can we drink this tomorrow night? Yes, we can!
The Baracktail
- makes 1 Baracktail -
Ingredients
2 stems mint
Ice
2 ounces gin
2 ounces hibiscus syrup (You can buy Wild Hibiscus or use this recipe from Giada de Laurentiis)
Sugar
1 ounce fresh lime juice, reserving squeezed lime for sugaring glass rim
Procedure
1. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, drop the leaves of 2 stems of mint, and add some ice. With the back of a wooden spoon, muddle the mint leaves until they are bruised and broken.
2. Pour in the hibiscus syrup, lime juice, and gin. Shake the cocktail until cold.
3. Pour a thin layer of sugar onto a rimmed baking sheet. Run squeezed lime around the rim of a martini glass; invert glass and dip in sugar to lightly coat the rim. Pour the cold Baracktail into the glass, and take a sip.
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17 Comments:
gag me. I really can't wait till we can stop "baracking" everything.
mhurst826 at 3:56PM on 01/19/09
ha, i was just going to say that! let's hope that's first thing on the agenda tomorrow.
j at 4:16PM on 01/19/09
Well, count me as number 3 in wishing the adoration would subside. Lots of us are depressed this week without finding this on a cooking thread.
ocarol at 5:46PM on 01/19/09
yeesh. lighten up. this was clearly in good humour.
lexophile at 6:53PM on 01/19/09
I have to agree--it's not a bad sounding recipe and the point of this community is to support one another. It's just a cocktail for pete's sake.
smallblondemom at 6:56PM on 01/19/09
I love Barack-ing things. People like myself are proud and excited and happy that we have President Obama. I think the themed cocktail sounds great!!
smile at 7:04PM on 01/19/09
Hey Kerry
You can Barack- me any day. Keep them coming!
mrenglish at 7:40PM on 01/19/09
Thank goodness we're Barack-ing things. The alternative would have been, in a word, unpalatable.
chanterelle at 8:47PM on 01/19/09
Guess the first three of us who commented are the minority!
mhurst826 at 9:12PM on 01/19/09
This cocktail sounds delicious. The name's a little goofy, but what do I know? I'm not American.
I do plan to source some Hibiscus syrup just to try this though.
francie at 11:20PM on 01/19/09
The Baracktail looks and sounds delicious... perhaps I could yet become a cocktail drinker!
Keptek at 11:32PM on 01/19/09
I mixed Obama cocktails when he got the nomination. I used good vodka (no need to go overboard here; Smirnoff or Absolut will be more than good enough) with a splash each of Godiva liqueur and Grand Marnier, garnished with an orange slice.
NotAmerican at 2:19AM on 01/20/09
You almost lost me at the mint but the rest of the drink sounds so great, I'd just omit the mint.
I'd be proud to hoist a glass of your drink to this great man.
therealchiffonade at 1:45PM on 01/20/09
i just hope this cocktail doesn't have a sweet start and a disappointing finish because of all of the expectation preceding it!
Gizmosma at 11:38AM on 01/21/09
@ Gizmosma, I'm with you. Do you think the man can live up to all the hype? We're probably getting as much 'down under' as you guys are!
libbyk at 1:25AM on 01/22/09
Hail to the Chief
And to a new Era for America.
Your cocktail looks and sounds delicious. I might experiment with a bubbly floater on it.
Cheers!
Nellie Gatewood at 9:51AM on 01/23/09
Weeee, just made this at the office!
Zelnox at 4:54PM on 01/23/09