Buttermilk Maple Gin Flip

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Cocktail History

The Buttermilk Maple Gin Flip is a brunch cocktail of unknown origin that was published in the book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes. It’s a unique variation of the iconic Flip template that uses juniper-forward gin as the base instead of an aged spirit and mixes it with slightly sour buttermilk, rich maple syrup, thick egg, and fragrant, freshly grated nutmeg.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Gin: This is a spirit made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals to develop a distinctive, aromatic flavor.

Buttermilk: This is a fermented liquid that’s made by culturing and fermenting milk products. I used Prairie Farms Buttermilk.

Maple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with concentrated maple tree sap, which is boiled down into a rich, caramelized syrup.

Egg Yolk: This is the yellow portion of an egg that’s separated from the white and used to add richer flavor and thick texture to cocktails.

Egg White: This is the clear portion of an egg that’s separated from the yolk and used to add frothy texture to cocktails.

Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seeds of the nutmeg tree, which are dried and grated for their warm, aromatic flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 West Cork Distillers Garnish Island Gin
• 🔗 Hamel Pure Maple Syrup
• 🔗 Morton & Bassett Whole Nutmeg

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Grater: This is a kitchen tool with sharp perforated edges that’s used for finely shredding, grating, or zesting ingredients.

Goblet Glass: This is a large stemmed glass with a wide, rounded bowl that’s used for serving wine and cocktails in larger portions.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips Handheld Grater

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Pale yellow color

• Aroma: Nutmeg and buttermilk

• Taste: Thick, creamy buttermilk taste with sweet maple and dry botanical juniper

• Finish: More maple and nutmeg

Kendall’s Take: “I generally find the spirits used in flips pretty muted in flavor, but this recipe is an exception, for sure. What I thought would be a creamy drink with notes of gin ended up being the other way around—prominent gin botanicals rounded out by a thick and creamy mouthfeel and a hint of maple. I can’t say this is my favorite flip I’ve tried, but it was tasty. We ended up dialing back the gin ratio a bit so it was a little more palatable, and honestly, I’d also add in a little allspice dram if we made it again because it needs something else. If you aren’t already a fan of the juniper-forward spirit, this probably won’t be a hit for you, but if you are, this is a great brunch cocktail for showcasing various brands from your gin collection. Each will taste completely different.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.