Elizabeth Daniels 10/13
Eater asked five bars around the city to create special, limited time only off-the-menu Eater drinks, available through Sunday for Eater's Cocktail Week. So far Kristina Howald at Bestia will serve you a Granita Applebum. Today Brian Butler at Salt Air in Venice joins in with Crown of Thorns for $11.
Working behind the Salt Air bar means crafting drinks using only non-distilled ingredients because the restaurant doesn't have a full liquor license. So, here vermouths and fortified aperitifs are plentiful, and Butler says that they are so beautifully flavored and incredibly delicious by themselves that making a cocktail out of them could almost be a disservice.
So, his inspiration for Crown of Thorns comes from finding a delicate enough touch that allows these great flavors to really shine as a base spirit. Here, Imbue Petal & Thorn bittersweet aperitif is the star, balanced with cucumber juice and lemon, plus a touch of honey and bitters to round it out. Butler floats Brut Rose Cremant for texture and the result is a frothy, rose hued refresher that aims to please.
· All Cocktail Week 2013 Coverage [~ELA~]
