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Thyme to Kill Cocktail

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Thyme to Kill Cocktail
  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 15 min
  • Servings 1
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Thyme simple syrup, gin, tonic, and candied thyme springs makes for a super-refreshing summer cocktail!
by: Macheesmo
Updated Mar 8, 2017

Ingredients

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1 1/2 oz thyme simple syrup
  • 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur (opt.)
  • 2 oz tonic water
  • Limes (garnish)
  • Candied thyme (garnish)

Thyme Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • 8 sprigs fresh thyme

Candied Thyme Springs

  • Fresh thyme sprigs
  • 1/4 cup thyme simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Steps

  • 1
    To make simple syrup: combine ingredients in a small pan and bring to a light simmer. Simmer for two minutes, then remove from heat and let cool slowly to room temperature.
  • 2
    Strain out thyme sprigs from syrup and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
  • 3
    To make candied sprigs, dip whole sprigs in simple syrup and then toss with sugar. Let dry for at least thirty minutes before using as a garnish.
  • 4
    To make one cocktail, add gin, simple syrup, and elderflower liquor to a shaker with lots of ice. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
  • 5
    Pour cocktail into a tall glass and top with tonic water. Garnish with candied thyme and limes.

Nutrition Information

No nutrition information available for this recipe

More About This Recipe

  • It’s pretty hard to improve on a gin and tonic, in my opinion. On a hot summer day, it’s hard to beat! But even as a serious gin and tonic lover, I’m sometimes in the mood for a change and my Thyme to Kill cocktail is equally delicious. Thyme is not an herb that’s used a lot for cocktails but it pairs really nicely with the herbal tones in gin. You can’t really just stick a sprig of thyme in a glass and expect to get much flavor out of it, though. To really bring out some good thyme flavors, I like to make a quick simple syrup loaded with it. If you’ve never made simple syrup before, have no fear. It’s really easy and you only need three ingredients: sugar, water, and thyme. Combine all these in a pot and bring it to a simmer. Once it’s relatively cool, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for about two weeks without a problem. I like to store mine in a little canning jar for easy access! If you want to get super-fancy, you can also make some quick candied thyme sprigs to garnish the drink with. I’m not sure I would bother with this step unless you are trying to show off! If you want to, just get some nice fresh thyme sprigs and dip them in the thyme simple syrup. Then toss them with some sugar and let them dry for a few minutes. I tried a few different methods of candying the thyme sprigs and that is the method that worked the best and was easiest. I tried a complicated method involving egg whites but I wasn’t very happy with how they turned out and it was a lot of work – just go with the simple syrup method. When you’re ready to make a drink, combine all the ingredients in a large shaker glass with lots of ice and shake it like crazy for about ten seconds. I personally like to mix in a small dash of elderflower liquor in my cocktail (St. Germain’s is a popular brand), but it’s optional. If you are looking for a fun and different cocktail to kill the heat, try this drink out!
  • Still thirsty? Here are more crafty cocktails to get you through summer.
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