First things first, if you haven’t downloaded my FREE COCKTAIL eBOOK from my online shop – do so now. I will not be taking meetings, virtual or on patios with anyone who has not downloaded my eBook. Why you ask? Well, because the Fresh From the Garden eBook was a lot of work and it is FREE and contains 12 original cocktail recipes inspired by the flowers, herbs, and vegetables you might have growing in your backyard, balcony, or that you might be able to pilfer from your neighbour’s garden.
If you’re an avid participant in my interactive Virtual Happy Hour series on Instagram Stories on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 pm ET, you might find it helpful that I’ve plotted out which of the concoctions from the eBook that I’ll be making on Friday Happy Hours for the next few weeks. Much like with the Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar, Fresh From the Garden gives you the essential syrups and ingredients you’ll need to get organized ahead of time.
This Roquette Man is one of the recipes featured in the eBook and is my first application of arugula (a.k.a. roquette) in a cocktail. Arugula is easily my favourite leafy green with it’s peppery bite and I knew it would work well with some heat and the notes of citrus and pepper in a tequila blanco.
This muddled cocktail takes a bit of elbow grease as you have to first mash up some spicy yellow pepper and then softly muddle in the arugula before tossing in the remaining ingredients. The effort pays major dividends for agave-spirit lovers.
The Briottet peach liqueur I’ve used here can be hard to come by at the LCBO but they do seem to have a few bottles at the King Edward & Rideau location in Ottawa at the moment. If you can’t get your hands on this particular liqueur, you can swap it out for peach schnapps or apricot brandy.
Now that Ontario is in Phase 1 of reopening, I’m planning to aggressively support local and have booked reservations for a number of Ottawa’s finest dining establishments over the course of the next week. I think the biggest challenge will be remembering how to be a human again. What is small talk? How do we socialize? What do you mean I can’t eat my salad with my hands like I do at home? Luckily we still have alcohol to smooth out our crippling social anxiety and all the times we say, “You too!” to the server after they’ve said, “Enjoy your meal!”
Drawstring pants are cancelled? TBH I am all too excited for the OUTFIT options leaving the house presents. I am locked and fucking loaded for #shotgirlsummer. Crop tops, sundresses, midi skirts, oh my! With TikTok as my guide, who’s to say what you’ll find me wearing this summer – upside down bikini tops? Mom jeans? Scarves as shirts? Stay tuned for forthcoming fashion content to find out!
Let this Roquette Man ease your introduction back into society!
Roquette Man
The Roquette Man is an unexpected tequila cocktail that combined muddled arugula and hot yellow pepper with the agave spirit, peach liqueur, and citrus.
- 3 tbsp chopped hot yellow pepper
- ½ oz simple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh baby arugula
- 2 oz tequila blanco
- ½ oz peach liqueur
- ½ oz lime juice
- ¼ oz lemon juice
- Garnish: arugula leaf
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Add hot yellow pepper & simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Muddle until the pepper is pulpy. Add arugula, muddle until leaves are softened.
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Add remaining ingredients and shake over ice until well-chilled.
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Double strain into a rocks glass over one large cube.
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Garnish with single arugula leaf.
Sounds delicious! Love the photos as usual, keep up the good work.