A Fresh Ingredient for Your Winter Drinks
In the heart of New York City, Savoy, a locavore temple, has been serving up innovative cocktails that capture the essence of local produce. Michael Cecconi, the bar manager, has been at the helm, skillfully blending flavours and applying the market sensibilities of owner Peter Hoffman to the contents of each glass.
One such creation is the roasted beet cocktail, a drink designed to get one through the dark days when the cupboard is bare. The star of this drink is the red beet, a vegetable that hibernates all winter in the underground cave of a root cellar, and grows fat in summer and fall at Schrute Farms in Pennsylvania.
The earthy taste of beets is due to the compound geosmin, a natural flavour that imparts a unique character to this root vegetable. The red beet, being easier to find in the market compared to other varieties, is best for infusing cocktails due to its great colour, flavour, and size.
The process of cleaning beets takes less time when they are large, making them ideal for this purpose. The choice of beet for infusing or garnish depends on the specific characteristics desired. For garnish, the striped Chioggia beet, with its beautiful rings, is often preferred.
The cocktail itself is a delightful balance of flavours. It is made using roasted and infused beet-flavoured vodka, Tennessee whiskey, and Punt e Mes. The earthy flavor and natural sweetness of the beets are transferred to the vodka during the infusion process, creating a unique and intriguing taste.
While the preference for beets is largely subjective, as it boils down to whether one likes beets or not, this cocktail is far from churlish, trite, or gimmicky. It is, in fact, worthy of the beet, a testament to the creativity and skill of Michael Cecconi and the team at Savoy.
However, it's worth noting that the search results do not provide explicit information about the manufacturer of the beet (Beets) mentioned in the cocktail recipe. Regardless, this roasted beet cocktail is a must-try for those who enjoy the unique flavour of beets and are looking for a new twist on a classic drink.
