I wanted to add to the conversation about the “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail” with a crisp, subtly bold cocktail that pays homage to Saratoga Springs and our surrounding region. This inspired “The Yaddo”—a nod to the equally bold artists who stay at Saratoga’s famed artists’ retreat. Also, I think we can all appreciate the vast variety of apples and honey found in our region, so I created my own apple and spiced bitters and apple-honey simple syrup to give this cocktail the sweetness it deserved.
Mixologist: Damian D’Arpino
Bar: The Brook Tavern
Cocktail: The Yaddo
The Yaddo
Ingredients
2oz. Barr Hill Vodka (or any floral gin)
1/2 oz. Elderflower liqueur
3-4 dashes Apple and spiced bitters*
1 oz. Apple-honey simple syrup**
1/2 oz. Fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Combine vodka, elderflower liqueur, bitters, simple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker glass with ice. Shake and strain in a chilled stem glass of your choice. Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!
*The Brook Tavern’s apple and spiced bitters recipe:
8 oz. 100-proof vodka of choice
6 Apple peels
1 Cinnamon stick
4 Cloves
1 Lemon peel
Let sit for 8-10 days. Then drain into a good reusable, sealable container.
**The Brook Tavern’s apple-honey simple syrup recipe:
1 Lemon peel
1 c. Local organic honey
1 c. Saratoga Natural Spring Water (flat)
4 oz. Organic apple concentrate
Simmer to half volume.
