The Blushing Buck (Cocktail Recipe)
Inspiration: The excitement of learning that this country’s first premium gin was being distilled in my little corner of Canada was only surpassed by a snappy wake-up call to the senses on first sampling Victoria Gin. This local spirit teases nose and palate with a fistful of aromatic wild-gathered botanicals, leaving no question as to what a confident gin should taste like.
Bravo to Victoria Spirits’ modern gin — carefully distilled by hand in small wood-fired batches on Vancouver Island. As its popularity spreads across Canada, praise is being garnered from enthusiastic mixologists and the hardy west coast fans who choose to drink this one straight. For me the temptation was to have some fun with Victoria Gin and the juiciest organic oranges from Buck Brand Citrus. Combining whole fruits (minus pith and peel) in the Thermomix makes for a frothy, refreshing and ruddier version of the traditional Buck Cocktail. This “Blushing Buck” is easy to prepare, even easier to drink and full of healthy vitamins. It’s so thick, you’ll feel like you’re drinking a smoothie and forget that you’re drinking gin. Isn’t that the perfect excuse for a leisurely Sunday brunch?
Blushing Buck
100 g. Victoria Gin (more or less, to suit your taste)
100 g. chilled ginger ale
1 chilled blood orange (No blood oranges where you live? Go ahead, use a regular orange. It won’t be as pretty, but it will still taste good.)
1 chilled large Navel orange (or similar seedless variety)
1/2 chilled lime
5 ice cubes
- Prepare oranges by cutting off the peel, and removing any seeds. It is important to remove peel by cutting rather than simply by peeling, as this will also remove most of the white pith. (Some pith is okay on the fruit, but retaining all pith will result in a very bitter drink!) Cut oranges into large chunks and toss into Thermomix bowl.
- Squeeze juice from the half lime (remove any seeds) and add this juice to the bowl with the ginger ale. Add ice cubes to bowl and puree for 45 seconds on speed 8.
- Add gin and mix gently for 4 seconds on REVERSE speed 4.
- Serve immediately. Makes two substantial drinks that have the consistency of a citrus shake or smoothie.
- Updated (March 14/2010): As recommended by JudyDawn in Australia, this cocktail improves when strained before serving — and I agree. After further taste-trials, I recommend straining and serving over one ice cube. This makes for a lighter drink.
- Garnish as desired with slices or twizzles of lime or orange, or with juniper berries (from the spice section of your grocery store).
