Elevate Your Cocktail Recipes With Orgeat Syrup - All Your Need To Know
What if we told you that there is a secret ingredient that can elevate your cocktail recipe? Yes, orgeat syrup is an ingredient that can transform your cocktails to a whole new level. Read on to know what exactly is orgeat and how you can use them in cocktail recipes.
Level Up Your Cocktail Recipes with Orgeat: Insider Tips and Tricks
What is Orgeat?
Orgeat is a classic French syrup, which is made from a combination of almonds, sugar and orange flower water. Its unique sweet almond flavour wrapped with floral undertones, has made it one of the popular ingredients in many cocktail recipes. The word “orgeat” comes from a Latin word for barley, because the original orgeat syrup was made using barley water. But later, almonds took the place of barley, giving birth to the orgeat syrup as we know it today with a delicate and distinctive flavour profile!
The History Of Orgeat
If we begin to trace the history of Orgeat it is rich and complex, spanning several centuries, cultures and different regions. Some believe that Orgeat syrup is a classic syrup from France while others believe it originated in the Middle East and then spread across Europe, where it was adapted to local tastes and ingredients. Today, Orgeat is one of the most commonly used ingredients in many French cuisines and can also be found in many cocktail recipes, especially the classic Mai Tai.
What is Orgeat syrup made of?
This cocktail syrup is made using almonds as a base, sweetened with sugar, and flavoured with citrus or floral essences such as rose water or orange extract.
1. Almonds: They are the heart and soul of orgeat syrup. Almonds contribute to the syrup's creamy texture and nutty flavour. So, the traditional method of making orgeat is to soak almonds in water to remove their shells. After that, the mixture is mashed into a fine paste. In recent years, however, blanched almonds have been used to skip the skin removal phase. It makes preparing simpler and more convenient.
2. Sugar: This is the key element that sweetens the syrup and balances off the almond flavour. In most cases, granulated sugar and water are boiled together to make simple syrup, which is then blended with almond paste. Sweetness levels can be changed to personal preferences. If orgeat syrup is well-balanced, it has the power to enhance the overall flavour of the cocktails.
3. Orange Flower Water: Orange blossom water is made by distilling the blooms of bitter orange trees. It gives the syrup a beautiful flowery aroma. Orange flower water has been used for centuries and can be found in many culinary creations. Adding orange flower water elevates the flavour profile of the orgeat syrup with its subtle yet refreshing hint of citrus, neatly balancing the notes of almonds.
Using Orgeat Syrup in Cocktail Recipes
This is a versatile syrup that can be used in a wide assortment of cocktail recipes. Its distinctive flavour profile pairs well with various spirits. It can enhance the taste of classic cocktails or inspire you to create new creations. Here are a few classic cocktail recipes that use orgeat syrup:
1. Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe
A classic tiki cocktail that is known for its refreshing and exotic flavours. It is typically made with rum, orgeat syrup, lime juice, and orange curaçao. Here’s the cocktail recipe:
Ingredients
- Rum - 45ml
- Dark rum - 15ml
- Orange curaçao - 22ml
- Fresh lime juice - 22ml
- Orgeat syrup - 15ml
- Lime wheel - 1
- Mint sprig - 1
- Ice
Method:
- Grab a cocktail shaker and fill with crushed ice
- Measure and pour white rum, orange curaçao, lime juice and orgeat syrup into the cocktail shaker
- Shake briefly and pour it into a glass
- Using the back of the bar spoon, float dark rum over the top
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wheel
2. Fog Cutter Cocktail Recipe
An indulgent cocktail that promises a trip to a tropical paradise with its exotic blend of flavours. This classic tiki cocktail is a fusion of spirits - rum, gin, and cognac. All blended with citrus and orgeat syrup to craft a bold cocktail that is not for the faint heart!
Ingredients:
- Light rum - 45ml
- Cognac - 30ml
- London Dry Gin - 15m;
- Fresh lime Juice - 60ml
- Fresh orange juice - 30ml
- Orgeat - 15ml
- Oloroso sherry - 15ml
- Mint sprig - 1
- Ice
Method:
- Grab a cocktail shaker and fill with ice
- Next, measure and pour light rum, cognac, London dry gin, lime juice, orange juice, and orgeat syrup
- Shake vigorously until all the ingredients are well combined
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with crushed ice
- Using the back of a bar spoon, float Oloroso sherry on top of the drink
- Garnish with a sprig of mint
Congratulations! You are now equipped with all the information you need about Orgeat syrup to create delicious cocktails that are bound to linger in your taste buds. Undoubtedly orgeat is a fantastic ingredient that can elevate your cocktail recipes to new heights. To fully appreciate the subtle flavour of this syrup, you must try the cocktails made with it!
