Rose & Quince

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 60 ml Gin
- 30 ml Japanese Quince Syrup/Cordial (homemade)
- 30 ml Rose Hip Syrup
- 7,5 ml Fresh Lemon Juice (Optional)

GARNISH:
- Lemon Wheel
- Cherry

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• (Summer serve). Strain over fresh crushed ice into a cocktail glass.
• (Winter serve). Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cherry.

Cocktail author: Povilas Mikuta (aka. Grouchy bartender)

I long had an idea for this cocktail, and I am happy to finally present it.
Japanese quince and rose hip are tastes familiar to me from the very early childhood, so I might be a bit biased when it comes to this cocktail. Long ago I had an idea to take these floral fruity notes that I love and try to combine them into a single cocktail. Both flavours are quite prominent in this cocktail. Floral rose hip notes bring some fragrant lightness to the cocktail, while thick quince cordial adds sour/savoury fruit notes. As a main spirit I chose juniper forward, dry style gin from my home country, which is prominent in the cocktail, but does not overtake other tastes or make it too confusing. As an option I suggest to add a touch of lemon juice, which helps with the balance when cordial and syrup are rather sweet.
I have prepared two versions of this cocktail. Crushed ice version is intended for summer, with heaps of crushed ice, to chill the cocktail and help you enjoy it for longer in the summer heat. Served up version is meant for winter with strong tastes intended to offer comfort in front of a roaring fireplace.
I hope you will enjoy it.