Fall

Smoked Earl Grey Tea Cocktail

by:
October  6, 2010
0
0 Ratings
Smoked Earl Grey Tea Cocktail
  • Serves 1
Author Notes

A few weeks back, I was chatting with a friend of mine who owns a really cool tea company and promised him I’d come up with an interesting tea cocktail. This smoked earl grey tea cocktail was the result and is a delicious combination of smokiness, citrus and ginger that works for both guys and gals. have to admit – I am completely addicted to Tavalon’s Smoked Earl Grey Reserve Tea. It’s incredibly complex, woodsy with citrusy floral notes. I’ve been drinking it nonstop. When I was coming up with this recipe, I wanted something that wasn’t too sweet and really highlighted the tea flavor rather than masking it with a heavy alcohol flavor. This Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur I picked up worked perfectly. The cognac base blends seamlessly with the smokiness of the tea, and the ginger is delicate enough to compliment it without taking over. I’m ginger-light with my cooking precisely because it so easily can overpower. Not here. The lemon juice provides the perfect tangy balance, and using a lemon sugar on the rim provides just the right amount of sweetness. This is a seriously good cocktail and will definitely be served at my next dinner party – enjoy! —aliyaleekong

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Rim:
  • sugar
  • lemon zest
  • 1/2 lemon
  • Cocktail:
  • 3 ounces cold, brewed smoked earl grey tea
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 ounces Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
Directions
  1. In a small bowl, add sugar and as much lemon zest as you desire. Mix thoroughly and transfer to a plate. Rub the ½ lemon along the rim of a rocks glass. Dip glass face down into lemon sugar to create an even coating along the rim.
  2. To the glass, add cold, brewed smoked earl grey tea, lemon juice, and ginger liqueur. Stir to combine and add a few ice cubes.
Tags:

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • FoodieFlirt
    FoodieFlirt
  • hardlikearmour
    hardlikearmour
  • aliyaleekong
    aliyaleekong
  • Sagegreen
    Sagegreen
  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames
aliyaleekong
Chef, Author - Exotic Table: Flavors, Inspiration & Recipes from Around the World to Your Kitchen, Mom to a chickadee ?

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22 Reviews

FoodieFlirt
FoodieFlirt November 7, 2011
This is a fabulous cocktail. I ordered some Smoked Earl Grey and had my bottle of Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur and lemons ready for a small brunch we had this weekend. Everyone raved about this cocktail and we killed the bottle of ginger liquer. Fabulous recipe aliyaleekong! Smooth and complex flavors while being refreshing and just plain easy to drink! Awesome!
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong November 8, 2011
Doesn't that ginger liqueur go down easy? Lol - I'm glad you and your friend enjoyed it!
 
FoodieFlirt
FoodieFlirt November 18, 2011
It did not in the other cocktails I made with it. But with your recipe, the tea and lemon really balanced out and enhanced the flavors of the ginger liqueur really well. It was fab! It's my new favorite cocktail!
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour January 21, 2011
Yum, yum, and yum. This is awesome. My husband said "I could drink those all night!"
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong January 26, 2011
Great! That was my goal, actually. Something both men and women would like, so good to hear your husband liked the drink!
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour January 27, 2011
Made this for dinner guests and everyone LOVED it. I'm probably becoming your number one fan at this rate!
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong January 27, 2011
That's great! I love entertaining with this drink, so I'm glad it worked for you too!
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong January 18, 2011
Nice! I'm sure it's delicious as a hot toddy. :) Great treat for shoveling snow.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen January 18, 2011
And I had the final bit cooled! Tao of tea was the kind of smoked Earl Grey I used. This is a super cocktail. Thanks so much for concocting and sharing this.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour January 18, 2011
Sagegreen, I'm ashamed to admit I didn't know Tao of Tea has a smoked Earl Grey! I must get some to make this cocktail, and use in my next batch of caramels. Thanks for the info.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour January 18, 2011
Wow...this is completely up my alley. I love smoked tea, Earl Grey tea, and Domaine de Canton.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen October 6, 2010
So interesting! I discovered a wonderful canella liquor in Portugal from cinnamon that I have not been able to find in my neck of the woods. Ginger Liqueur may be more hopeful! If I find some, I will give this a try.
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong October 6, 2010
Ooh, that sounds lovely...that would actually be wonderful with another tea i have. let me know if you find the ginger liqueur! It's so interesting because it's balanced with the vanilla and honey. perfect gingery-ness!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen January 18, 2011
Wow! Let me report that this also makes a fab hot toddy! Work got canceled this afternoon, so after shoveling tons of snow and ice, I just enjoyed one. Seriously good!
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong October 6, 2010
As for the Domaine de Canton, surprisingly, it's really delicious by itself. It's a lot milder than you would think - both in alcohol flavor and ginger flavor. I've secretly been pouring it over ice and sipping it...
 
Kelly225
Kelly225 October 8, 2010
Sipping Domaine de Canton by itself is not a sin! I do it myself. I find it very, very enjoyable.
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong October 6, 2010
Thanks, Antonia James! Here's the tea I use: http://tavalon.com/p-311-smoked-earl-grey.aspx. My friend owns the company, and this tea is addictive! It would be delicious as a sauce base as well - like for duck.
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames October 6, 2010
How interesting! Wow. Every time I try to buy the Canton Ginger liqueur at my regular store for such things, they are out. I'm going to have to track some down. I've never heard of a smoky Earl Grey. Definitely need to find some. Sally, please report back on your experiment with the alternative to the Canton Ginger!! ;o)
 
aliyaleekong
aliyaleekong October 6, 2010
Hey SallCan - thanks! The liqueur has a few more ingredients in it although I'm sure they don't disclose all of them, namely Tahitian vanilla, honey, and ginseng. The flavor is extremely interesting, and I would say most liquor stores these days should carry it. If I were you, I'd make a simple syrup and infuse it with honey, vanilla, and ginger and combine that with the cognac to get the best flavor.
 
SallyCan
SallyCan October 6, 2010
Thanks, that sounds really good, I'll try that, but also stop by the liquor store tor the Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur as well. Have you used it in anything else?
 
SallyCan
SallyCan October 6, 2010
Intriguing! This takes Earl Grey to new levels. I'm not familiar with Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur ~ do you think that I could just use Cognac and fresh ginger ?
 
Kelly225
Kelly225 October 8, 2010
I would try looking for Domaine de Canton in a local liquor store. It's a one of a kind ginger drink. You would for sure need to try it!