Enjoy a cozy evening with the London Fog Cocktail recipe! Mix Gin, absinthe and just a touch of sugar to create this elegant winter drink.
Prep time: 1 minute minute
Mixing time: 1 minute minute
- 1½ oz Gin - preferably London Dry
- ¼ oz Absinthe
- 1 bar spoon simple syrup
- Ice cubes
- Crushed ice
- Lemon zest twist - for garnish, optional
Old Fashioned Glass
Measuring Jigger
Shaker
Cocktail Strainer
Prep Glass: Fill a Rocks or Old Fashioned glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
Add Sugar: Pour 1 bar spoon simple syrup into the shaker.
Add Absinthe: Add ¼ oz Absinthe.
Add Gin: Measure and pour 1½ oz Gin into the shaker as well.
Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
Strain & Add Ice: Discard the ice in the Rocks or Old Fashioned glass and use the cocktail strainer to pour the drink into the chilled glass. Fill the glass with a generous amount of crushed ice.
Garnish: Garnish with a lemon peel and serve immediately.
Substitutes:
- Gin: If you don't have Gin, you can try using Genever (preferably Jonge style) as a substitute. You can also use vodka for a cleaner taste. However, keep in mind that in that case the taste will differ greatly from the original drink and will lack the botanical touch of the gin.
- Absinthe: Any kind of pastis or anise-flavored liqueur can work if you're out of absinthe. It's not quite the same, but it still gives that licorice kick.
- Simple Syrup: You can easily make your own simple syrup at home by mixing together equal parts powdered sugar and water over low heat. Stir well until the sugar fully dissolves and let the ñixture cool down to room temperature before using.
Making a Pitcher of London Fog Cocktail:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of Gin, 1 ½ oz of simple syrup and 2 oz of absinthe.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Gin, simple syrup and absinthe. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice and pour into rocks or Old Fashioned glasses. Fill the glasses up with a generous amount of crushed ice, garnish with a lemon peel and serve immediately. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Gin Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic gin substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic gin's botanicals.
- Absinthe Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic anise extract or for an anise-flavored syrup for a sweeter version.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
However, keep in mind that, as the London Fog cocktail is solely made out of alcoholic ingredients, it can be hard to recreate its flavor using only non-alcoholic substitutes; the overall flavor and mouthfeel will probably change greatly from the original drink. In order to make the perfect mocktail version of this drink, you may have to revise the quantity of each ingredient depending on the specific substitute you decide to use.Making it Vegan:
The standard recipe is already vegan-friendly as it uses no animal products. Just ensure any substitutes you use, if any, are also vegan.