The Sagecoach
- Thomas D. Williams
- Jul 8, 2020
- 2 min read
The noble herbs make for some of the best mixers for refined, original cocktails. If you are thinking that your herb garden should start contributing to your cocktail repertoire as well as your cuisine, the Sage Coach may just be the drink for you. With all the subtlety and earthiness characteristic of sage, this cocktail will excite your palate and intrigue your creative spirit.
I developed this potion as an off-shoot of the basil gimlet, with some very important alterations. While still gin-based, the Sage Coach swaps lemon juice for lime to take advantage of the lemon and eucalyptus notes present in sage. I also used the the layered Crocodile Gin del Professore (fast becoming one of my favorite gins) to add even further complexity to this quaff. This is not to say it cannot be made with a more straightforward gin, but it will always benefit from the Crocodile's bite.
In many ways, however, this drink is just the umpteenth version of the classic sour, combining gin, fresh lemon juice, and a sweetener (I use agave nectar but simple syrup or even honey could work as well). The addition of the sage leaves, however, bestow on the cocktail its defining identity.
Some recommend preparing a sage-infused simple syrup for the creation of sage-based cocktails, but I find that an especially vigorous agitation of the cocktail shaker is sufficient to coax out the desired flavor from the sage leaves. You may pass the resulting elixir through a sieve to strain out the small pieces of sage leaf or simply leave them (as I do) to continue their infusing while in the glass.
I hope that this new drink adds a further herbal note to your cocktail repertoire, providing you with yet another fun and original concoction for an evening of subtlety and sophistication.
Recipe:
- 3 parts gin (best not pre-chilled)
- 3/4 part fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 part agave nectar (or to taste -- I prefer mine none too sweet)
- four sage leaves
Directions:
Place the ingredients over abundant ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds to fully dissolve the agave nectar and muddle the sage leaves. Strain into a martini glass, passing through a sieve if desired to remove the remains of the leaves.
Garnish with sage leaf.
Serve.
I almost never leave comments, but this one pulled it out of me. There's a steady confidence in your writing that makes even the dense parts feel doable. I'd tell anyone hovering over the summary to view article properly and give it the time it's owed. You clearly respect your reader. Count me a fan from here on.
I was pointed to this by a recommendation and it delivered on what was said about it and then some. The writing is measured and the information is presented in a sequence that actually makes sense. I found myself wanting more detail on a couple of points, which says something about how well the subject is introduced here. The later sections were particularly strong and tied everything together in a way that made the earlier parts land better in retrospect. Already exploring other content from the same source. Really well put together.
Someone I respect told me to access the post before going any further with my research on this subject and I understand why that advice was given now. The depth is real, the tone is consistent, and the writing has a clear voice that runs through it from beginning to end. I didn't feel like I was reading something assembled from other sources — it reflects genuine thought about the subject from someone who actually understands it. Already pointed three colleagues toward it. Really well done.
I found this article clear, useful, and enjoyable. The writing style was approachable, which made the subject easier to connect with. I liked that the main ideas were explained without unnecessary distractions. This blog offers content that feels thoughtful and well prepared. It is always nice to come across writing like this. Great post.