Mixology Monday: Flores de Mayo

After missing the deadlines for the last two Mixology Monday's I finally get to participate In my first one!  This months theme is floral cocktails.  With spring in full swing everywhere in the northern hemisphere but here in Victoria British Columbia it's time to celebrate some of the wonderful floral ingredients that we are able to use in cocktails.  This months MxMo is hosted by Dave at The Barman Cometh.

"The challenge is to feature a cocktail that highlights a floral flavor profile or includes a floral derived ingredient, whether home-made or off the shelf.  With the ever expanding catalogue of spirits (and the kitchen labs of home enthusiasts), there’s a whole host of directions for you to choose from – elderflower liqueur, creme de violette, chamomile infused gin, hibiscus grenadine, rosewater, lavender syrup – or to create."
- Mixology Monday

I thought it would be too predictable to reach for a bottle of gin for this cocktail so I used what is promising to be my favorite spirit for this coming summer, Cachaca.  More importantly Sagatiba Pura Cachaca.  Sagatiba Pura is one of two cachacas (excluding private stores) available in British Columbia.  Although I have only tried Sagatiba, to put it nicely I haven't heard great things about the other numerically named cachaca.  Both Sagatiba Pura and it's aged counterpart Velha have wonderful vegetal or "green" characteristics in their taste and smell, which is perfect for the cocktail I wished to portray.

Greenhouse Fizz
- 1.5 oz Sagatiba Pura Cachaca
- 0.5 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- 0.25 oz Orange Tea Syrup*
- 1 inch of Fresh Cucumber
- Soda Water

- Add cucumber to bottom of mixing glass and muddle
- Add remaining ingredients to mixing glass
- Add ice and shake hard for 15 seconds
- Double strain in a collins glass filled with cubed ice
- Top with soda water
- Garnish with cucumber wheel

Greenhouse Collins

* To make orange tea syrup brew one cup of a strongly flavored orange tea( with at lease two tea bags).  Add tea to a pot with equal parts sugar over low heat until all the sugar has dissolved.  Let cool and bottle in your fridge.

Their you have it, my first of hopefully many MxMo posts.  I did originally want to do something with rose or lavender but just do to time restrictions with work I never got a chance to go buy some.  This tall refreshing spring collins is actually named after the location in which I photographed the drink.  Enjoy.