The Green Orchard
Ingredients:
2oz Apple Brandy
1oz Dry Vermouth
.5oz Simple Syrup
Green Grapes
Tarragon
2 dashes Urban Moonshine Original Bitters
2 dashes Bittermens Boston Bittahs
Green Chartreuse (Rinse)
Instructions:
Add about 8 green grapes and 10-12 leaves of tarragon to the bottom of a chilled mixing glass. Top with simple syrup. Muddle the mixture to break up the grapes (don’t go too crazy on the tarragon). Add the apple brandy, dry vermouth, Urban Moonshine bitters and Boston Bittahs. Add ice and stir until well chilled. Rinse a chilled coupe with green Chartreuse and then strain the drink into the glass. Garnish with a grapes and a few leaves of tarragon.
Notes:
Sweet apple, grape and tarragon with hint of fresh cut grass on the nose. Visions of warm fields, dandelions and apple orchards dance through the mind. Light on the front end, a blend of apple, grape and pear pleases the pallate, accented by tarragon, grass and anise. The combination of fruits crescendos toward the end of the palate. While the finish begins to dry out at first, it is later replaced by a pleasant candied apple sweetness.
History:
The Green Orchard is one of two drinks created for an herb inspired Mixology Monday. Be sure to check out my other tarragon laced concoction: Summer Abroad, which features genever, Green Chartreuse and lavender.
This months theme is “Witch’s Garden” and comes from Mark Holmes at Cardiff Cocktails:
“As far back as we can look, the use of fresh herbs have been prevalent in the world of mixed drinks. From the early days of the julep, through Williams Terrington’s 19th century Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks, to Don the Beachcomber’s ahead of their time Tiki drinks, fresh herbs have always been at the forefront of mixology. So lets take influence from the bartenders that once ruled the world of mixology, raid your herb garden that too often gets neglected, and start mixing. I don’t want to put too many limits on this theme so get as creative as you please, want to use roots, spices or beans as well? Sure thing. Want to make your own herbal infusions or tinctures? Sounds wonderful.”
While working on my entry for the upcoming Mixology Monday, my wife also came up with some great ideas for a cocktail. So when I began actually making Summer Abroad, she began making what would become The Green Orchard.
She wanted to do something with tarragon and grapes. The Apple Brandy worked nicely but made things a little sweet. The addition of dry vermouth added great flavor and dried things out a bit. The bitters and green Chartreuse add to the herbality, without being over the top making a really refreshing fruit and herb flavored treat.
- The Chartrulep (aka. Chartreuse Trifecta) (drinkstraightup.com)
- Minty Blues (drinkstraightup.com)
- Eldertreuse Spritz (drinkstraightup.com)
- Mixology Monday LXXII Cocktail: CSA Gin (putneyfarm.com)
The Straight Up 
6 Responses to “The Green Orchard”
[…] Abroad is one of two drinks created for an herb inspired Mixology Monday. So be sure to check out The Green Orchard for more tarragon goodness, this time coupled with grapes and apple […]
Beautiful. Would not have thought of tarragon, but it does make sense. Still working on ours…and thanks for the link!
Thanks and anytime! Yeah I wanted to branch out a bit to something I hadn’t really seen before. I’m sure yours will be great as always!
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[…] Abroad is one of two drinks created for an herb inspired Mixology Monday. So be sure to check out The Green Orchard for more tarragon goodness, this time coupled with grapes and apple […]