Happy Valentines Day!
I choose to ignore all of you anti-Valentine’s Day types, (which probably suits you fine today)! Just FYI: Valentine’s Day was not started by Hallmark Cards. Hallmark’s first Valentine’s Day card was sold in 1913, while the first official Valentine’s Day observance as a special day of romance was in 1537. Anyway, how about a flaming, red drink!
I have named this the San Antonio Cloud. I found the recipe on a scrap of paper along with a bunch of other little “notes to self” hiding in my desk a few years ago. There was no reference on it, so I have no idea where it came from. Anyway, it’s a tequila based cocktail with the tartness and color of pomegranate. The elderflower foam floating on top makes for a pretty as well as delicious drink.
San Antonio Cloud
1 ½ oz. Milagro Plata Tequila- 1 oz. pomegranate juice
- dash rhubarb bitters
- dash 2:1 simple syrup
- St. Germaine Elderflower Foam – see below
- Misto of Chartreuse
- Chill cocktail glass with ice and water
- Stir all ingredients, except foam, with ice
- Add St. Germaine Elderflower Foam to chilled glass
- Strain drink through foam into glass
- Flame drink with Misto of Chartreuse
Add the Foam to the Glass
Pour the Liquid
Repair the Foam
Float the Foam Last
You can either put the foam into the chilled coup first and pour the drink through it, or pour the drink first and float the foam on top. Pouring the drink through the foam will incorporate some of the foam’s flavors into the liquid portion of the drink. This will, however, make the drink slightly cloudy. Pouring the liquid first and then topping it with the foam will give you the clear liquid with foam floating cloud like on top. In the photo, the drink on the left had the liquid poured through the foam. You can see the difference.
The Left Drink is Cloudy
Still, in a matter of 3 or 4 minutes, the foam will begin to dissolve slowly and it will look like the other drink.
Flaming the drinks is a bit of theatrics. The flavors will be very similar if you simply mist the tops with the Chartreuse. HOWEVER, fire is cool! First, practice in the sink. Second, be certain that nothing flammable is near the drinks. To flame the Misto, hold the match/lighter near the path of the spray and press the top. You only want a quick short flame. It will otherwise melt the foam and impart too much Chartreuse flavor.
So, have a wonderful and romantic day.
Cheers!
St. Germain Elderflower Foam
- 3 egg whites, 9 Tbl or 4 ½ oz. pasteurized egg whites (see note)
- 3 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 2 oz. lemon juice
- 1 dash lemon bitters
- Lightly whip egg whites
- Add all ingredients to whipped cream charger
- Secure top and shake a few times to further break up the egg whites and combine ingredients.
- Double charge with N2O, shaking 4-5 times between charges. Over shaking can cause ingredients to clump and clog charger.
- Chill for at least 1 hour before use.
- Keeps a few days refrigerated.
Note: In this application, the fresh egg whites are not really superior to the pasteurized variety.
