Our Bar and Spirits Director Antoine Hodge shares his recipe for the refreshing Duke cocktail.

The Duke is a Gimlet cocktail made with a berry-sage maple syrup and Brockman’s English Gin.  The syrup is made by boiling fresh berries and sage, which is a perfect complement to the natural botanicals found in Brockman’s Gin.  The result is a light, refreshing and fruity drink with sophisticated notes of sage and spice in the background.  As for the regal name, a Duke is the highest ranking position below the monarch. So while the King is drinking a traditional and more formal Gin and Tonic, the Duke is having a bit more fun and exploring the possibilities of his palate.

BERRY-SAGE SYRUP RECIPE

½ pint raspberries

½ pint blackberries 

½ pint blueberries

1 sprig (stem on) sage

2 cups maple syrup

2 cups cranberry juice

Pinch Salt

Preparation:

Add all the ingredients to a large pot and bring to simmer.  Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the consistency is similar to maple syrup.  Let cool and then pour into a blender. Blend for a minute or two and then strain. (Syrup recipe yields approximately 20 cocktails) 

COCKTAIL RECIPE

2 oz. Brockman’s English Gin

¾ oz. fresh lime juice

1 oz. berry- sage syrup

2 dashes bitters

Preparation:

Shake all the ingredients together and strain over ice into a glass. Garnish with a blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and sprig of sage. Cheers!