Whiskey Cocktails: The Gloom Lifter
Its’ time for a shift, and the gloom lifter is just the cocktail to do it. This whiskey based cocktail has reopened my eyes to a key element of mixology and lifted my spirits to a new time of year. To any seasonal drinker March is whiskey season: not whisky or scotch, but whiskey and this cocktail has certainly pulled me out from my winter rut just in time for spring.
As I begin to open my glass to whiskey again, I typically reach for Irish whiskey. While each version of whisky has its’ place in my almanac, the transition from late winter to early spring resonates with the light and mellow, yet still complex notes of Irish whiskey.
While the history on this cocktail proved elusive, the flavour did not. During the past few weeks I have been focusing on egg white cocktails and I really found a certain simplicity when sweetening with simple syrup. This ingredient however has proved worthy once more when used alongside a complex base spirit such as whiskey in this drink. Whiskey, unlike some other base spirits, has enough complexity that is able to stand up to a sours’ build with simple syrup.
Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Egg white
2 oz. Irish whiskey
.5 oz. simple syrup
.5 oz. lemon juice
3-4 ice cubes
Directions:
- Dry shake egg white for 20-30 seconds to develop foam.
- Add all other ingredients and shake for another 5-10 seconds, enough to cool the drink.
- Strain and serve in a martini or coupe glass.
The Gloom Lifter is a cocktail that really showcases the feature ingredients well. Each item stands out, and still the cocktail becomes something more than the sum of its’ parts. The lemon juice brings the acidity to the drink and also adds a certain lightness that lets you know that summer is on its way. The whiskey shows off and stands as the backbone of this beverage. Flavours of caramel, toffee, and charred wood all combine from the whiskey and balance well with the lighter flavours mentioned above. The egg white stands in, as it always does, for texture rather than flavour. A thicker, richer cocktail still has its place (in my opinion) at this transitional time of year.
This late in winter and the cold and snow still remains, I for one am ready for spring. I am not sure at this time if it was just a change I was looking for, or if it was indeed this change, but it was welcome either way. If you are looking for a drink that might allow you to see the light on the horizon, seasonally speaking, try the Gloom Lifter next time you’re up for a drink.