The Garden Sour is a modern twist on a classic sour cocktail, blending unique ingredients to create a symphony of flavors. It's a shaken mezcal cocktail made with rhubarb liqueur, lemon juice, rich simple syrup, and a dash of celery bitters, topped with a splash of chilled soda water. Served in a Collins glass and garnished with a rhubarb ribbon, it's as visually appealing as it is delicious.
The recipe is a creation of Giffard, a well-known producer of syrups and liqueurs. For the launch of their Rhubarb liqueur in 2017, they came up with a set of recipes to promote their new product. The Garden Sour was one of these recipes and in my opinion, the best one they came up with.
The cocktail marries the smoky aromas of mezcal with the bright zest of citrus and the subtle sweetness of rhubarb. The result is a fantastic light, refreshing, and bittersweet cocktail perfect for Spring.
Quick facts about the Garden Sour cocktail
- Method: shaken
- Flavor profile: light, earthy, sour, delicately smoky, sweet rhubarb
- How to serve it: Chilled in a Collins glass on ice, garnished with a thin slice of rhubarb
- Glassware: Collins glass
- Alcohol content: ~ 16.6% ABV, 17.5 grams of alcohol per serving
Cocktail Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Del Maguey Mezcal Vida: Mezcal, often overshadowed by tequila, brings a smoky depth that's essential to the Garden Sour. Del Maguey Mezcal Vida is used in the original recipe and is an ideal choice to make this cocktail.
- 0.75 oz Giffard Rhubarb Liqueur: This liqueur is the key to the recipe and the reason it exists. It adds a pleasant balance of sweetness and tartness, enhancing the cocktail's complexity without overpowering it.
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is crucial in this recipe. The acidity in fresh lemon juice brightens the cocktail and balances the sweetness from the rich syrup and the liqueur.
- 0.5 oz Rich Simple Syrup: A richer version of simple syrup (using a 2:1 sugar-to-water ratio) adds viscosity and a deeper sweetness.
- 2 Dashes Celery Bitters: Just a couple of dashes introduce a subtle herbal, vegetal note to the drink.
- Chilled Soda Water: A splash of chilled soda water lightens the cocktail, making it refreshingly effervescent.
- Garnish: Rhubarb ribbon aka thinly sliced rhubarb decorated in the glass.
Bartending Tools Needed
To make the Garden Sour cocktail, you'll need the following bartending tool.
- Cocktail Shaker: Used to mix and chill your ingredients thoroughly. We recommend using a Boston shaker for its versatility and ease of use.
- Jigger or other Measuring Tool: Ensures precise measurements for a balanced cocktail. Opt for a double-sided Japanese jigger for measuring different volumes.
- Hawthorne Strainer: A Hawthorne strainer pairs well with most cocktail shakers and keeps ice and other solids out of the final pour
- Collins Glass: The ideal glassware for serving the Garden Sour, providing ample space for ice and soda water. Choose a clear glass to showcase the cocktail's color.
- Bar Spoon: Useful for stirring and layering ingredients smoothly. In this recipe, you'll need it after topping up your drink with soda water.
- Ice: Essential for chilling the drink while shaking and in the glass without excessive dilution. Use large, clear ice cubes for the best results.
Step-by-Step Guide to Make This Cocktail
- Chill your Glassware: Put the Collins glass in the freezer or fill it up with ice to chill it before making the drink.
- Prepare Your Cocktail Shaker: Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Measure and Add Ingredients: Pour all of the ingredients except soda water into the cocktail shaker.
- Shake Vigorously: Seal your shaker and shake the drink well for about 15 to 20 seconds until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
- Strain into Glass: Fill the Collins glass up with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass.
- Top with Soda Water: Add a splash of chilled soda water to fill the glass. Then give it a quick stir with your bar spoon.
- Garnish: You can either use the rhubarb ribbon inside the glass or position it artistically on top of the drink.
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
- 1 Bar spoon
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Mezcal - Del Maguey Vida is used in the original recipe
- 0.75 oz Rhubarb liqueur
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Rich syrup
- 2 dashes Celery bitters
- Chilled soda water - to top of
Instructions
- Store your Collins glass in the freezer or fill it up with ice to chill it before making the drink.
- Fill your shaker with ice, then add all ingredients except soda water.
- Seal the shaker and shake for about 15 to 20 seconds until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
- Fill your Collins glass with fresh ice and strain the drink into the glass.
- Top of the drink with chilled soda water and gently stir the drink.
- Garnish with your thin rhubarb slice or ribbon.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Joven (young) mezcal like Del Maguey Vida is ideal, offering a balanced smokiness that complements the other ingredients.
I prefer celery bitters but yes, you can use other bitters that fit the flavor profile such as grapefruit bitters, though it will alter the original taste.
Combine two parts sugar to one part water, heat until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool before using.
Absolutely, the garnish is optional and primarily for presentation; the cocktail will still taste great without it.
While a Collins glass is traditional, you can use any tall glass that holds all the ingredients comfortably.
Keep the mezcal in a cool, dark place with the bottles tightly sealed to maintain their quality over time. Store the liqueur in the fridge.