L to R: Spuytin Duyvil, Moondog, I Hung it Up photo(c)Nata Traub
Thanks to poet and friend
Joy Katz, I’m a member of a
facebook group of ambitious cooks and bakers and cocktail makers. We share recipes, pictures, successes and
failures. We recommend restaurants, we
argue about techniques, all in the spirit of making ourselves better
cooks. Mostly I lurk, in awe, as my
co-members describe and display elaborate meals of their own making.
One member especially has attracted my attention. Nata makes cocktails. They’re delicious. Her photos are beautiful. She serves her drinks in fun vintage bar ware, some
of which resembles my own collection, inherited from my mother. Her instructions are clear. Her combinations of ingredients are
provocative and never fail to make me thirsty. Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean.
So I was delighted when she began posting snippets about her
forthcoming book, Nata’s Cocktails. (Click on the link to purchase.) As soon as it went to print, I ordered a
copy and Nata and I began a correspondence.
I proposed a collaboration to spread the word about Nata’s
book. I would send Nata
a poem to inspire a cocktail, the recipe for which I would share with
you, along with information about how you could buy her book, which, I should
add, comprises recipes for ten seasonal drinks.
Nata was game! I sent
her David’s poem The Party of Ideas. A
few days later, Nata’s recipes along with photos appeared in my inbox.
About her recipes, Nata writes:
I put together a Gin Flight, a way to afford the drinker the
opportunity to sample 3 different cocktails, without being brought to one’s
knees. I did so knowing that the poet has a preference for gin. Each drink is
no more than 3 ounces in total, with approximately 1.5 oz of gin each. Each cocktail
is served in a different (vintage) glass, and in a progression from lighter to
more full flavored.
As to not be a slave to a cocktail shaker when serving them
to friends, I prepared the mixes in advance and kept them in the freezer. They
are well chilled when it comes time to serve. There are several steps involved
in each (with some parts being made a day or 2 ahead) but I always find it
worthwhile to proceed in this way. Like any recipe, the results of advance efforts
contribute to a memorable conclusion.
I have tried not to use any spices/foods or machinery that are difficult to
find, but I do have a small coffee grinder that I purchased just for use with
herbs, etc. Substitutions and variations are something that should be
encouraged. As for
juices, fruits, & herbs, the fresher the better.
Sit
back, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the Flight!
Since each drink involves several parts, I’m going to take the
next few days to shop for and prepare the ingredients. Come Friday, it’s cocktail time! Wheeee.
Won’t you join me?
The complete recipes are below the jump: