For our feature, we wanted to highlight the essence of Esquina Cantina, where the cocktail menu is “always summer,” while infusing the comfort of holiday herbs and spices. This cocktail boasts fig, a summer fruit that packs a seasonally versatile flavor, bergamot, thyme, cinnamon, agave, and, of course, Don Julio Blanco tequila. We loved the idea of “time” for the name of the cocktail, as in “time to celebrate” or “tempo” in dance, and as a play on words as thyme is featured twice in the recipe! Our absolute favorite part about this cocktail is the garnish. There is just nothing better than fresh herbs, and the extra-long lemon twist that pirouettes around the thyme creates a movement that partners with the “nine ladies dancing” theme.
What’s Up with the Nine Ladies Dancing?
What happens towards the end of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? We suspect that the writers started to run out of good gift ideas. (It happens to us all, no shame). The nine ladies dancing definitely add a spirited, festive touch to a Christmas party. The party only gets wilder with verses ten through 12!
Dance Magazine investigated how much this gift would actually cost: a whopping $7,552.84, according to PNC Bank. There’s some religious connotation: the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Those nine attributes are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Cocktails are not exactly representative of self-control, but you should probably exercise it if you’re on cocktail number three here, because this spice cocktail is roundly full of tequila.
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Nine Ladies Dancing Spice Cocktail
Description
Mix a summer vibe with holiday spices!
Ingredients
For the cocktail
- 5oz Don Julio Blanco
- .75oz fig & thyme syrup (see below)
- .75oz bergamot purée (can sub lemon juice)
- .5oz agave syrup
- Pinch ground cinnamon
For the fig & thyme syrup:
- 12oz fig purée
- 12oz sugar
- 24oz water
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
Instructions
For the cocktail:
- Combine ingredients in shaker tin. Shake. Double Strain into Nick & Nora glass.
- Garnish: Lemon ribbon wrapped around fresh thyme. Pinch of ground cinnamon.
For the fig & thyme syrup:
- Combine fig, sugar and water over high heat. Bring to a boil until all sugar is dissolved.
- Add thyme and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until fragrant. Cool. Strain until smooth.
Check out the rest of our “Twelve Days of Christmas” cocktails or make the whole set!
Recipe by Larkin Kolls and Jamie Cumberledge, Esquina Cantina
Styling by Anna Franklin
Photography by Laura Petrilla
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