Heart Shaped Box
Now, what would be just the absolute, most perfect potion pairing for this Valentine’s Day puzzle box? I’ll spare you the suspense, since we’re all about the happy feelings right now, and introduce you to this cocktail, created by Brad Farran and featured in the Death and Company Modern Classic Cocktails book.
The Heart-shaped Box by Brad Farran
The “Heart-shaped Box” is perfectly named and hits all the right notes for this holiday. It’s built around cognac, which is rather elegant, and sweetened with strawberry (naturally), elderflower liqueur (how romantic) and cinnamon syrup (exotic, too). Lemon juice brightens the mix, but not enough to let things go sour. Finally a little secret ingredient, balsamic vinegar, really ties it all together in a sophisticated manner, and elevates this drink from superficial flirtation to complicated true love. I’ve even created a little citrus cupid to go with the drink, made from lemon, lime and blood orange peels, with a brandied cherry noggin. If that doesn’t make you smile, go get yourself a hug, in a hurry. This Valentine’s Day, don’t be puzzled by love – it’s not something you need to solve, anyway. Here’s a toast to the ones we love – our friends, our family. Cheers!
Open your heart to these heart shaped boxes
Wine comes in at the mouth, and love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth, before we grow old and die. I lift the glass to my mouth, I look at you, and I sigh - William Butler Yeats
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind”
Heart-shaped Box by Brad Farran
1 ripe strawberry
2 oz cognac
¾ oz elderflower liqueur
¾ oz lemon juice
¼ oz cinnamon syrup
½ tsp aged balsamic vinegar
1 dash Angostura bitters
Muddle the strawberry in a shaker tin, then add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a favorite glass filled with crushed ice and garnish with another strawberry. Drink as many as required to find true love.
For last year’s Valentine’s Day offerings including the chocolate negroni: