Cinq à Sept

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Cocktail History

The Cinq à Sept is a holiday cocktail that was created by author Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. This inventive recipe takes inspiration from the Gin Sour, a classic cocktail known for its balance of sweet, tart, and boozy notes. Like the original, it combines dry gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup with a frothy egg white for a silky texture, but it's elevated by incorporating Yellow Chartreuse, an herbal liqueur with subtle floral and spicy undertones, and tonic bitters, which add depth and complexity. The result is a festive and refined cocktail perfect for ushering in the colder months.

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Cocktail Ingredients

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

Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, alcohol, and water. I used PARK Distillery Alpine Dry Gin.

Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I used this stovetop recipe.

Yellow Chartreuse: This is a liqueur made in France with over a hundred herbs and plants, spices, sugar, alcohol, and water.

Egg White: This is the clear liquid in an egg. I used fresh egg whites.

Tonic Bitters: This is a food product made with quinine, botanicals, and alcohol. I used The Bitter Truth Tonic Bitters.

Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

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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 to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.

Peeler: This is a small, handheld tool with a sharp blade that’s used to remove the outer skin of fruits and vegetables. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.

Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed, shallow, wide-bowled glass that’s designed to enhance aroma and presentation. I used a thrifted coupe glass.

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Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Pale yellow color

• Aroma: Slightly bitter quinine and citrus

• Taste: Muted lemon flavor followed by sweet and varied botanical garden notes

• Finish: Chartreuse and bitter hints

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: "Although definitely a tasty gin drink, nothing about this recipe wowed me, especially when compared to the other incredible holiday drinks I've tried. I could see the recipe working for cocktail hour given its relative simplicity and palatability, which may be the whole point as could be inferred from its name. But I just didn't love it, and the only real reason is because I was expecting more from a holiday drink. Without the addition of maybe a spiced syrup or something, you could stick the Cinq à Sept in a modern classic cocktail recipe book, and it would fit right in."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.