Ineffable Spirits No. 1 | The Snakecharmer
“You said it was him!” moaned Aziraphale, abstractedly picking the final lump of cream-cake from his lapel. He licked his fingers clean.
“It was him,” said Crowley. “I mean, I should know, shouldn’t I?”
“Then someone else must be interfering.”
“There isn’t anyone else! There’s just us, right? Good and Evil. One side or the other.” He thumped the steering wheel. “You’ll be amazed at the kind of things they can do to you, down there,” he said.
“I imagine they’re very similar to the sort of things they can do to one up there,” said Aziraphale.
“Come off it. Your lot get ineffable mercy,” said Crowley sourly.
“Yes? Did you ever visit Gomorrah?”
“Sure,” said the demon. “There was this great little tavern where you could get these terrific fermented date-palm cocktails with nutmeg and crushed lemongrass-”
“I meant afterwards.”
“Oh.”
While the libation Crowley enjoyed in Gomorrah was almost certainly made with palm wine, it also definitely qualifies as a craft cocktail1, and given his mention of little frou-frou drinks with umbrellas2, and Neil and Terry’s penchant for anachronistic silliness, I like to think it was probably a tiki drink, too. In keeping with the tiki spirit, I used dark rum3 and a date elixir made in two parts: white rum that I infused at home using the isi whipper infusion method4and dried medjool dates, and a simple syrup, also made with dates, fresh orange peel, and honey. Pomegranate molasses is one of those ingredients I just like to use whenever I can– it’s got such an interesting character, being extremely tart, sweet, and even just a touch savory with that lovely deep red color. I even used a little extra to hold the rim garnish, which is unsweetened toasted coconut, grated lemongrass, and lime zest. The Cardamaro is there to balance it out with a touch of bitter spice, and aquafaba5 is there provide some lovely foam for the fresh grated nutmeg to perch on. The star of this cocktail is definitely the lemongrass, and to really kick up the flavor, I used it in 3 ways: grating it into the rim garnish, muddling a bit at the bottom of the tin, and juicing it! Well, four ways, if you count the lemongrass stalk Crawly is perching on.
The Snakecharmer
2 oz dark rum
1.5 oz homemade date elixir
½ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
½ oz pomegranate molasses
¼ oz Cardamaro
¼ oz lemongrass juice
¼ oz aquafaba
Prepare rim garnish (toasted coconut and lime zest) by wetting the rum of the cup on a plate with pomegranate molasses, then dipping it into a second plate with the garnish. Fill cup with ice6. Muddle a few slices of lemongrass in the cocktail shaker, then add ingredients to it, including plenty of ice. Shake it like the apolcaylpse is nigh, then strain into cup. Garnish with snake twist and freshly grated nutmeg. Best enjoyed in Gomorrah’s glory days7, in a raucous, dimly lit tavern while a particularly prescient young musician plucks out a killer rendition of “Paradise City” on a lute. (And you, perhaps, keep one eye on the door in case your “hereditary enemy” stops by to join you for happy hour.) Psst. Is there a character, scene or ship in Good Omens that you wish you could bottle up and drink? Hit me up and I'll try to concoct something apocalyptically tasty with your inspiration in mind.
[1] Nutmeg and crushed lemongrass? These would be $14 a pop in a place with exposed filament lightbulbs if Gomorrah was still kicking.
[2] Episode 1 of the Good Omens miniseries.
[3] Brand? The Kraken, obviously. Great big bugger.
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFDWSBbcBKo
[5] The liquid from canned chickpeas and a nifty vegan alternative to egg white.
[6] I only had a large square cube on hand, but this would be fantastic with pellet ice, very traditionally tiki.
[7] You know, before Upstairs got their knickers in a twist about all the sinning.