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Cocktail History
The Garden Sour is a modern cocktail that was created in 2017 by Giffard, a brand of liqueurs and syrups. The recipe was released alongside the premiere of their Rhubarbe Liqueur and was meant to highlight its unique spring-inspired flavor by pairing it with smoky mezcal, citrus, celery, and soda water.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Soda Water: This is a carbonated beverage made with water and dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which gives it a fizzy, neutral flavor.
Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.
Rhubarb Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with rhubarb, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, tart flavor.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.
Rich Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with 2:1 white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet, sugary flavor.
Celery Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with celery, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an earthy, slightly bitter flavor.
Rhubarb Ribbon: This is a rhubarb slice that has been thinly cut into a strip.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to peel ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Pale pink with an ombré effect
• Aroma: Light, earthy agave and rhubarb
• Taste: Cooling flavor that features mezcal depth offset with, sweet rhubarb, citrus, and celery notes
• Finish: More grassy mezcal
Kendall’s Take: “I hadn’t tried very many spring mezcal drinks before tasting this one, but the Garden Sour is the most delightful I’ve come across so far. I really liked how refreshing the recipe was, and while the mezcal is prominent, it’s not overwhelming in any way. This is another great gateway to enjoying the smoky agave spirit’s taste in other beverages, and it’s a truly lovely, light, and airy sip for this time of year.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Difford’s Guide, an online guide to cocktails, spirits, and liqueurs.
Garden Sour
Description
The Garden Sour is a modern cocktail that was created in 2017 by Giffard, a brand of liqueurs and syrups. The recipe was released alongside the premiere of their Rhubarbe Liqueur and was meant to highlight its unique spring-inspired flavor by pairing it with smoky mezcal, citrus, celery, and soda water.
Ingredients
Method
Add mezcal, rhubarb liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and celery bitters to shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Add fresh cracked ice to a highball glass.
Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain into highball glass.
Top with soda water.
Using large tweezers or small tongs, position rhubarb ribbon around the outside of the ice in the glass.
