Sleeping Lotus

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Cocktail History

The Sleeping Lotus is a tiki cocktail that was created by Sierra Kirk at Hale Pele in Portland, Oregon. Reminiscent of a tropics-inspired cross between the Army & Navy and Southside, the recipe combines a dry gin, lemon, and citrus bitters with tropical orgeat syrup and refreshing mint.

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.

Orgeat Syrup: This is a sweetener made with almonds, white sugar, and water, which are blended and flavored with orange flower water to develop a nutty, floral sweetness.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Orange Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with orange peels, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter citrus flavor.

Mint: This is an herb made from the leaves of the mint plant, which are harvested and used for their cool, aromatic flavor.

Orchid Blossom: This is the flower of an orchid plant.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 🔗 Liber & Co. Almond Orgeat Syrup
• 🔗 Scrappy’s Bitters Orange Bitters

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.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Muddler: This is a handheld bar tool with a thick handle and flat or textured end that’s used for crushing ingredients to release their flavors.

Hurricane Glass: This is a tall, curved glass with a bulbous shape and short stem that’s used for serving tropical or tiki-style 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 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 OXO Steel Cocktail Muddler
• 🔗 Hurricane Cocktail Glass Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Transluscent pale yellow

• Aroma: Mint and botanical gin

• Taste: Soft, crisp gin flavor that transitions into the sweetness of orgeat syrup, zesty citrus, and a cooling mint presence

• Finish: More bright botanicals and a hint of almond

Kendall’s Take
“I’m always intrigued when a tiki-inspired cocktail reaches for a base spirit other than rum. The Sleeping Lotus immediately reminded me of the refreshing simplicity of a Southside, just stretched into a tall drink and rounded out with a touch of orgeat. The mint, citrus, and subtle nuttiness come together in a really bright and easygoing way, making for the kind of drink that feels perfect for warm weather and long afternoons on the patio.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Easy Tiki: A Modern Revival with 60 Recipes by Chloe Frechette.