September is one of my favorite months- the weather is still sunny and warm, but fall (THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR) is in sight. I like that I can still wear sundresses and sandals, but also light cozy candles and start planning my Halloween costume. Like September, nectarines are transitional in the way that they link summer and autumn. Using the juice from them in this variation of a gin fizz adds to the summery floral taste of the St Germain, while the texture of the egg white and spice of the chili powder will carry this cocktail into the colder months. I’m not going to lie- this drink won’t be for everyone. The flavors are very bold and you can definitely taste the gin. That being said, if you’re a juniper-loving chick like myself and don’t mind something with a little kick- you have to try this! It’s one of those drinks that will make you go “ooo that’s different” on the first sip, but keeps you coming back for more. Let’s mix it up!
Nectarine Gin Fizz- Serves Two
4 oz Gin (I had Tanqueray on hand, but Hendrick’s would work well here too)
2 oz St Germain (Elderflower Liquer)
Three Nectarines (Two to juice, one to garnish)
One Package of Thyme
½ Tablespoon Honey
1 Egg White
Chili Powder
First, cut the skin off of two nectarines, remove pits, and slice fruit into large pieces. Add nectarine slices into a food processor with the honey. You may also need to add a tablespoon or so of water to help with the blending depending on how ripe your nectarines are. Blend until mixture is smooth.
Next, press the nectarine mixture into a fine mesh strainer with a spoon. Continue until you have strained out about 4 oz of liquid.
Now it’s time to shake! Add Gin, St Germain, Nectarine Juice, Egg white (no yolk!) and one sprig of thyme into a cocktail shaker. Shake for about 2 minutes with no ice, then add ice to the shaker and shake until chilled. Strain into 2 glasses. The top should have a nice fizzy texture from the egg white. Garnish with a nectarine slice and a few sprigs of thyme, then dust the top with chili powder.
A couple of notes:
- Try to find nectarines that are super ripe. Under-ripe fruit will result in bitter tasting juice. If you can find perfect juicey nectarines, you could probably even ditch the honey in the recipe. Mine could have been just a little riper, so I thought the honey helped sweeten up the juice.
- I first made these without the chili powder, and with the addition of some club soda. They were good, but Dillon and I both kept sipping them saying- they are just a tiny bit off. I remade them minus the soda to be more of a sipper, and while they were much better, we still kept trying to put our finger on what it needed. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the chili powder and we both were instantly like yep- that’s it! What I’m getting at is, don’t leave the chili out of the recipe. Even if you’re not a fan of spice, just a littttle bit on top will really marry these flavors together.
- These little stemless cocktail glasses are vintage and I thrifted four of them for $6. I am so in love with them. Shop vintage when it comes to glassware guys, you will find the coolest stuff.
Alright, get to shaking! This cocktail is a must-try- and SO pretty looking! #InstaWorthy Also, I was blasting some throwback tunes while making them (typical) and “Grand Theft Autumn” by Fall Out Boy came on. It seemed oddly appropriate because this drink has me super excited about fall. It also made me realize how much FUN it would be to think of the names for a craft cocktail menu. Like, that’s probably my dream job. Mine would definitely be a mashup of lyrics from the 90’s/early 2000’s. I call this one “Where is your boy tonight?”
Feel free to comment below with any questions! If you do try out the recipe, share with the hashtag #347Cheers because I love to follow along. Also, what would your cocktail menu names be? Let’s hear them in the comments!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be concocting at my bar cart pondering what type of drink I can name with Spice Girl Lyrics. #TeamPoshForever Cheers!
Xo Amanda