Bottom Line We had these amazing cocktails on our honeymoon, and recreated them at home. I promise, they are to die for.
In the world of beverages, there are only three that I need. Water because I’m a human, and it makes my face clear. The second is wine, because it is unbelievably complex and delicious, makes dinner a little bit better, and let’s be honest, it’s relaxing after a long day. The third, and by far the best, is coffee. It’s as delicious and complex as wine, comforting and cozy in a cold car on the way to work, and when you add ice it can be refreshing and energizing on a hot summer day. The buzz of it can help me focus, get through a tough class, or ease me into a run on a Saturday.
On our honeymoon, we ran into so much exceptional coffee - an indulgent cold brew dumped over scoops of avocado ice cream, a bright and surprising blend of beans brewed with yuzu, and more espresso martinis then we could count. Our two favorite shops were Anomoli in Ubud, and Pison in Seminyak. If you are lucky enough to get to Bali, make a stop to both, and spend more time in Ubud than we did.
And while we came home with lots of beans, the coffee that I simply cannot get out of my head was a Kopi Wood Negroni from Mejekawi. Our dinner at Mejekawi was one of the best of the trip, and while we have dreamed of the succulent pork tamales and the reverse seared duck breast, the menu item that has been permanently seared onto my taste buds was their take on a negroni. Trust me on this, you too need to drink this magic.
Before you run away from this post, because gin tastes like scotch tape and negronis are too bitter, let me say a few things. First, My husband loves negronis. I think they’re fine. They are bitter, and there’s not much to balance that out. I’d like a sip of one, and then, wine please. But this negroni is different. Trust me. Second, a lot of gin does smell just like scotch tape, and taste like a pine tree. But some gin doesn’t. Some gin is complex and flavorful, but also smooth and crisp. Lately, we’ve been drinking a lot of Roku Gin. It’s exactly the kind of gin you might like if you don’t like gin. There are a few other distillers that are also awesome – namely Letherbee, Hendricks, Few, and Koval. Few, Letherbee, and Hendricks have a few different flavor profiles, and you might be able to find one that is entry level. And, if you live in the Chicago area, I highly recommend you head to Scofflaw when social distancing is over. Their burger and fries are amazing enough to warrant a visit, but their gin focused cocktail menu is out of this world. I promise, if you keep an open mind and delete the taste of Bombay Sapphire from your memory, you’ll find a gin drink you like. Mmmmm I can’t wait to go back there.
So, now that you’re not afraid of a drink with negroni in the title and gin in the shaker, I’ll get back to the pure genius of the Coffee Negroni (Kopi = Coffee). It follows the same basic recipe as a negroni – Gin, Sweet Vermouth, & Campari – but you do some work on the gin. Coarsely grind your favorite coffee beans, and dump about ¼ cup of them into a jar. Top with about 8 oz of your favorite, non-tree-tape-flavored gin, and seal it up. Wait a week (this is by far the hardest part). When that week is up, you’re left with rich, slightly sweet and a little earthy tasting booze. Letting the two canoodle for a week brings the best out of the gin and the beans. You have to strain, and shake it with the other too boozes and some ice, and then, my friends, you have coffee flavored cocktail heaven. I may have just discovered a fourth drink that I need in my life.
To enjoy, mix up the drink and serve with your favorite charcuterie plate cured meats & cheeses. Make some garlic-y toasts, and delight in the taste a perfect pairing.