Memsaab

Makes: 1 bright, citrusy, and aromatically spiced cocktail

For the uninitiated, Memsaab, a word unique to societal titles as they were/are in India, is a twisted amalgamation of the word “ma’am” and “saahib” (often said as “saab”) and likely came around during India’s colonial era. Used to address a woman respectfully in society, the very definition of a memsaab implied that she was married to someone important and subsequently was important herself; the kind of woman that hosted a top-notch high tea, chatted politics at luncheons, and cheered on her favourite horse at the races.

For this cocktail, I drew inspiration from 2 sources: One, spices that made India so covetable to be colonized, and Two, my obsession with all things Death & Co. I smushed both these things into one deliciously aromatic, spring-forward cocktail with notes of toasted coriander that hit your nose before you delve into this boozy number rife with bright citrus and some more spices, keeping things interesting with a base split b/w gin, aquavit, and a slightly sweet Gewürztraminer.

Perfect for a memsaab’s afternoon of intellectual frolic, me thinks.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 oz London dry gin

• 1/2 oz aquavit

• 3/4 oz Gewürztraminer (substitute: Reisling or any other slightly sweet white wine)

• 1 barspoon vanilla extract

• 1 dash orange bitters

• 1/4 oz demerara simple syrup

• 1/2 oz citrus oleo syrup (here’s how to make it)

• Pinch of dry coriander seeds

• Pinch of caraway seeds

• Pinch of cardamom seeds

• Cubed ice

• Dried flowers, to garnish

• Dehydrated citrus wheel, to garnish

method

• Add the coriander, caraway, and cardamom seeds to a small skillet and toast them on medium heat till fragrant. Turn off the heat and let the spices cool down to room temperature.

• Add the spices and citrus oleo syrup to a cocktail beaker. Use a muddler to press down on the whole spices and infuse into the liquid. Do this for 15 seconds at least. Then add the vanilla extract and simple syrup and repeat this muddling. Add the ice, gin, aquavit, white wine, and bitters, and stir swiftly for 5 - 6 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe using a fine mesh sieve.

• Garnish with any spring-centric elements like dried or fresh flowers, or even citrus wheels, either fresh or dehydrated.