Blue Moon Cocktail

This week I am filling my glass with some Blue Moon. Not the beer, but rather the cocktail by the same name. This refreshing little number is perfect for this time of year. I, for one, drink with the seasons whenever possible and it’s gin season.

The Blue Moon Cocktail has several variations however the most basic is this three component concoction consisting of gin, creme de violette and lemon juice. When you have any three part cocktail balance is of utmost importance, and everyone’s pallet may ask for a slightly different ratio. I tend to skew for slightly sweeter cocktails and if you do as well, this drink is certainly for you.

Back in the early 1920’s there was a bar named Joey’s located in New York. It was one of THE places to go in a city that has more than a few trendy locations at any time in its history. While I could comment on the clientelle or the food, the biggest part of Joey’s to this article was the house cocktail. You guessed it…The Blue Moon. While the exact recipe they used seems to have been lost to time, the name lives on in any bartender or mixologist who takes the time to research classic cocktails.

The Blue Moon

Ingredients:

1 oz. gin

.5 oz. creme de violette

.25 oz. lemon juice

1 lemon twist

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a shaker tin with ice.

Shake for 20 seconds and strain.

Garnish with lemon twist.

A word on gin, while there are certain minor variances and nuances between brands of any type of spirit gin can be a little tricky. One brand may have a little stronger lemon note, another heavier on the juniper. That is one of the reasons why knowing the flavour profile of the brands you work with is so important. I class gin into two categories: martini gin and cocktail gin. When you put the work in to become more knowledgeable about the cocktails you create, it really will show in the glass.

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