The Opium Cocktail
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The Opium is a bourbon-based cocktail created by Joy Daniel at Calle Dao, a Cuban-Chinese fusion restaurant that recently opened in New York City. It blends the bourbon with fresh-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice, tamarind syrup, lemon juice and poppy seed for a surprisingly refreshing flavor.
This drink reflects that fusion by combining Cuban cocktail ingredients with Asian flavors. The tamarind adds a sweet and sour note with a hint of floral, while the poppy seed tincture works like bitters and the seeds themselves bring a slight nutty note. It’s a fascinating concoction.
The Opium Cocktail
Yield:
1 drink
Prep Time:
5 minutes
Total Time:
5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Michter’s Bourbon
- 1/2 ounce tamarind syrup
- 3/4 ounce fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
- 1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 2 drops of poppy seed tincture
- Poppy seeds
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
- Pour in the bourbon, tamarind syrup, grapefruit juice and lemon juice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Pour into a glass over ice.
- Garnish with the poppy seeds and tincture.
Last Updated:
November 21, 2023
