Today is International Women’s Day and the theme for this year is Be Bold for Change, hence the name of today’s cocktail. It is also National Peanut Cluster Day, National Pancake Day, and National Proofreading Day. Yes yes I confess that I recently installed an app on my phone that keeps me informed about these holidays. After all, I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to make a celebratory cocktail, although I have to admit that coming up with something for Proofreading Day might have been a bit of a challenge. In all seriousness, International Women’s Day is incredibly important and not something to be taken lightly. Its observance since the 1900s has been intended to act as both a global reminder and a call to action because there is still such a need for gender equality. This is particularly relevant in our current political climate in the U.S. where many women are appalled to be feeling the threat of marginalization creeping back into our lives. It’s vital to remember, however, that in many places in the world it remains more than a just a threat, and women are placed in positions of peripheral importance, influence, and power on a daily basis. That’s why it has to remain a collective effort about which we remain diligent until we achieve gender parity everywhere, and ultimately create a more gender inclusive world.

For today’s cocktail, I tried to choose ingredients with the theme of boldness in mind. Let’s start with Bluecoat’s Barrel Finished gin. Aging in charred oak barrels brings depth and softness, without sacrificing any of Bluecoat’s bright and forward flavors of juniper and citrus. To me, this speaks perfectly to who we are as women, ever capable of bringing depth and dimension to whatever work-related or personal situation we find ourselves in. I chose Element Shrub’s Pineapple Turmeric next because it’s beautiful color is just the beginning of what it has to offer. Beneath the surface there’s pineapple, citrus, turmeric, and just a hint of curry, all of which bring tremendous complexity to this cocktail. Lemon juice intensifies the citrus components of the gin and the shrub, and the Palo Santo bitters echo the vanilla and smoke from the barrel aging, adding additional layers that work perfectly with the savory and spicy simple syrup. I specifically chose rosemary as an ingredient because it’s paramount that we never allow ourselves to become comfortable with the notion that it’s an equal world, always remembering that it’s our battle to fight, if not for ourselves, then for the women in the world who have far less than we do, and for the young girls everywhere who represent our future.

Be Bold for Change

2 oz Bluecoat Barrel Finished gin
1 oz Element Shrub pineapple turmeric
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz rosemary ginger tea simple syrup*
2 dashes DRAM Palo Santo bitters

Combine all the ingredients in the bottom half of a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake for about 20 seconds until cold. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a ginger slice and a rosemary sprig. Enjoy!

*To make the simple syrup, heat 1 cup of water to boiling and then add 2 ginger tea bags. Steep for 15 minutes then remove the tea bags. Measure out ½ cup of the tea and add ⅓ cup sugar. Heat gently until clear. Add several small rosemary sprigs and cover. Keep checking as it cools to see when the rosemary flavor is where you want it to be. Remove the sprigs and store in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.