DIY Cocktail Essentials: Rosewater

When you see roses you think romance, love, all the classics right? That's for a good reason: roses first notably became sought after during ancient Greek and Roman times as the mortal link of Venus or Aphrodite, both are the goddesses of love. The roses velvet curvy petals, wide variety of shapes and colors, and that deep sultry scent just exude sensuality.

However most people are unaware that there are a plethora of ways to incorporate roses into edible items, and we can think of few better things than cocktails!
I love cocktails with hints of botanical or floral notes and if you're like me, you'll no doubt recall that quite a few call for rosewater. Rosewater is commercially available, but it can be expensive; and as you'll soon see, it's very easy to make yourself.

Materials:
- 5 Cups Fresh (pesticide free) rose petals
- Distilled Water
-2-4 oz vodka

Preparation:

If you have access to strong scented roses that have not been sprayed with any insecticides you have what you need to make your own rosewater! If you do not have your own roses, now is the time for farmers markets, where you'll often find fresh cut flowers, many of which are grown pesticide free.

Start by plucking fresh petals, if you can get them all in one grab keep them bunched up, while holding the your fresh petals use scissors and trim the bottom little white bit off each petal. The white section will impart a bitterness that we don't want for this application. Repeat this process until you've gathered 5 cups of rose petals.

After trimming, place them in bowl or colander and rinse gently with cool water. Then add to a sauce pan, and cover them with distilled water (they will float, so you will need to push them down to gauge this.)
On medium heat, bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Place a tight fitting lid on the pan and lower temp to a slow simmer for 30 mins. They will be completely blanched when finished.
Remove from heat and strain all petals out, place them on a plate as they continue to drain and you want to press the remaining water out.

Place a fine mesh strainer over a funnel and pour the hot rosewater into a glass jar, then place the petals in the strainer and press them gently to extract any excess water left. Add vodka, then chill.
*Be aware, these pigments can and will stain clothing, table cloths, etc.*

Spirit Guides Summer Bloom

-2 oz Holystone Bosun's Gin
-2 dashes rosewater
-1/2 oz lime juice
-1/2 oz light agave syrup
-Fever Tree elderflower tonic

Add gin, rosewater, lime juice, and agave to shaker with ice. Shake til frosty. Strain over ice, and top with elder flower tonic. Garnish with rose petal.

To step up the presentation, add barely bloomed roses or flower petals to ice and freeze.
Enjoy!

Sabra
Spirit Guide
Maker of things
Taster of Drinks