The Bert Cooper
In case our obsession with vintage cocktail glasses didn’t give it away, we’re big fans of AMC’s series, Mad Men. In Season 6, episode 5, Bert Cooper decides it’s time for a celebratory drink:
Bert Cooper: I believe I would like a drink.
Pete Campbell: What do you drink?
Bert: Do you have any brandy?
Pete: No.
Bert: Spirits of elderflower?
Pete: No! I don’t have any laudanum either.
Bert: Surprise me.
Unlike Pete, our home bar often has a bottle of elderflower liqueur. This aromatic spirit is sweet and bright, with fruit and floral notes. It blends beautifully into a number of cocktails. We thought we’d give a nod to our favorite eccentric with this light and refreshing cocktail.
Yield: 1 cocktail
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Ingredients
3 oz. elderflower liqueur*
4-5 dashes angostura bitters
Seltzer water
1 lemon (for lemon twist garnish)
Vegetable peeler
Instructions
In a 6-8 oz. cocktail glass, add the elderflower liqueur and the angostura bitters. Top with a large ice cube and fill the remainder of the glass with the seltzer water.
Form the lemon twist by running the peeler from end to end of the lemon (try to peel just the zest, leaving the bulk of the white pith on the lemon). Twist the lemon peel over the top of cocktail to release the lemon oils onto the drink. Gently set the lemon peel on the rim. Save the rest of the lemon in the fridge for another use - it’ll keep for a few days.
The elderflower liqueur will likely be hanging in the bottom of the glass still, so give a light stir before enjoying. The angostura bitters helps to balance the sweetness of the liqueur; feel free to adjust the amount to your preferred taste.
Notes
*St. Germain is one of the most recognizable brands of elderflower liqueur, but other brands will work here as well and will frequently have a much lower price point. For instance, we’ve enjoyed Drillaud Elderflower liqueur, which we think is a touch less sweet than St. Germain and half the price.
Recommended Equipment:
Featured glassware: The glasses we show in our photo were sourced from local antique shop, but several companies sell options in the Dorothy Thorpe “roly poly” style. We’d suggest the Pryce Rocks Glass from Crate and Barrel.
Y-Peeler:
Stainless Steel Measuring Cup from OXO:
We love using these for all cocktail measurements. They offer 0.25 oz. measurement lines and are super durable.
Silicone Ice Cube Mold:
