The Mekong
(Recipe from "FoodWoolf.com")
Ingredients
2 oz Gin (Plymouth or British Gin)
Several Mint leaves and a sprig of mint
1 oz Nuoc Mau (Vietnamese Caramel). Recipe here.
Dash of Peychaud bitters
Dash of Rice wine vinegar
1-1.5 oz tangerine juice
1 oz lime juice
Recipe
Throw a nice pinch of fresh mint leaves into your cocktail shaker. Give a quick twist of the muddler to release the oils of the mint, but not rip apart or seriously break down the leaves.
Add gin, Nuoc Mau, dash of bitters the citrus juices and the lightest dash of rice wine vinegar.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake until icy cold.
Taste for balance. Adjust for balance if necessary.
Strain and serve up.
Garnish with a mint sprig. Enjoy!
Paired with The Bride Test
I chose to pair this novel with The Mekong because it a Vietnamese cocktail and not only are characters in the novel Vietnamese, but Esme spends a large portion of the novel missing home. It was only fitting that the boozy drink that goes with the novel be a Vietnamese cocktail that will hopefully transport readers to Vietnam with just a taste.