Concord Cocktail

By cristinasciarra • October 7, 2012 • 2 Comments

⎙

Author Notes: I wish I could think of a sexier title for this drink, because it's balanced and delicious, and I would like to encourage you to try it. I made a batch of grape-thyme syrup this weekend, and then had help from a friend (who is both a cocktail guru and a gin enthusiast) in fashioning this drink. Mix the leftover grape syrup with seltzer and citrus for a healthy, sophisticated soda. - cristinasciarra

Food52 Review: With a delightfully delicious and super easy-to-make grape and thyme syrup, this cocktail is grape, err great! The lemon adds a necessary counterpart to the sweetness of the grapes, while the vinegar adds a touch of zing. The best thing about this cocktail is how impressive it is without any real effort. And the ingredients lend well to experimentation, so you can always add a bit more syrup and less lemon if you want something a bit sweeter. - figgypudding

Makes about 2 cups grape syrup; recipe for 1 cocktail

Grape-Thyme Syrup

1 bunch Concord grapes
1 cup sugar
1 pinch sea salt
3 sprigs thyme
3 cups water

Rinse the grapes, and then add them to a medium-large pot, along with the thyme. Pour in the sugar, the pinch of salt, and the water. Turn the heat to medium low, and give everything a little stir to dissolve the sugar and salt.
Let the fruit cook slowly for about 30 minutes, or until the syrup coats the back of a spoon. Strain the grapes and thyme through a sieve, so just the syrup remains. Move the syrup into a glass or bottle, and then into the fridge until chilled. (You can make the syrup the night before; it will store in the fridge for about 5 days.)

Concord Cocktail

2 teaspoons grape-thyme syrup, plus more for the glass
1 1/2 ounce gin
1 1/2 teaspoon white peach balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 sprig thyme
1 dash lemon bitters

Spread about a teaspoon of the grape-thyme syrup around the bottom of your glass.
Add all of the ingredients to an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake, shake, shake, until the drink is thoroughly chilled. Pour the drink through a strainer, into the the syrup-prepared glass. Enjoy!