Nigella

Nigella cocktail is named for Nigella Lawson.

Nigella embodies what Cocktails For Mums is all about. She encourages women to cook for themselves and for enjoyment every day, something we forget we can do. She is eloquent and clear in communication that reminds us of the strength of nurture.

I’ve spent years thinking how to embody our respect for Nigella in a cocktail. And this drink is deeply intense. It is shaken on ice then strained into a salt crusted coupe as a counterfoil to the initial sweetness with a light sprinkle of nigella seeds for the musky earthiness at the heart of every woman.

This cocktail isn’t licorice or aniseed forward. The sambuca’s job is to add depth and adultiness.

Recipients: Guests that can handle all the intensity in every sip.

Type: Shaken

 

EQUIPMENT

Shaker

Shallow cocktail glass (coupe)

 

INGREDIENTS

40ml gin

5ml sambuca

10ml blackcurrant cordial

5ml lemon juice

Ice

Salt

Nigella seeds

METHOD

Get out your shallow cocktail glass or champagne coupe.

On a saucer add half a teaspoon of nigella seeds to a good grinding of salt.

Moisten the edge of your glass with a little lemon juice and dip the wet edge into your nigella seed and salt sprinkle until you receive a crusted edge. Put your glass aside while you mix your sambucca cocktail.

Put a scoop of ice in your shaker and top it with 40ml gin, 5ml sambuca, 10ml blackcurrant cordial and 5ml lemon juice.

Shake heaps and I stop shaking when the outside of the shaker is very frosty.

Strain the liquid from your shaker into your shallow cocktail glass.

 

SERVE

Serve it in the shallow cocktail glass that you strained it into. The deep colour and twinkling crusta need no further adornment.

ANECDOTE

This sambucca cocktail was inspired by an episode wherein Nigella demonstrates the perfect pairing of licorice and blackcurrant and shows us her box of licorice flavoured ingredients.