Caprice

About the Caprice

What is the Caprice? It is a stirred, gin forward cocktail built on Timber Creek Florida Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and a small measure of Benedictine, finished with orange bitters and an orange twist. The name suits it: this is a whimsical little variation on the classic Martini template, where the honeyed, herbal sweetness of Benedictine takes the place of a dry finish and turns the drink into something rounder and more contemplative. Timber Creek’s gin, distilled from the distillery’s grain to glass base and redistilled with botanicals, brings a juniper forward backbone with citrus and soft spice underneath, and that structure holds up well against Benedictine’s honey and herb intensity instead of getting lost in it.

Dolin Dry Vermouth adds a floral, slightly saline counterpoint that keeps the whole drink from tipping too sweet. To build the Caprice, add a dash of orange bitters to a mixing glass along with one and a half ounces each of the gin and the dry vermouth, then half an ounce of Benedictine, fill with ice, and stir until well chilled and slightly diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe and finish with an expressed orange twist, letting the citrus oils settle on the surface of the drink before dropping the peel in or discarding it. This is a cocktail that rewards patience in the stirring, since a fully diluted, properly cold pour is what keeps the Benedictine from tasting syrupy.

It makes a good aperitif before a meal built around goat cheese, cucumber salad, or grilled shrimp, and its lightly sweet profile also pairs surprisingly well with a lemon tart for dessert. Because it stirs down clean and low proof relative to a straight spirit pour, it is a reasonable choice for a slower, conversation paced evening, though as with any cocktail it is worth keeping an eye on your pace and drinking water alongside it.

What is the Caprice? It is a stirred, gin forward cocktail built on Timber Creek Florida Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and a small measure of Benedictine, finished with orange bitters and an orange twist. The name suits it: this is a whimsical little variation on the classic Martini template, where the honeyed, herbal sweetness of Benedictine takes the place of a dry finish and turns the drink into something rounder and more contemplative. Timber Creek’s gin, distilled from the distillery’s grain to glass base and redistilled with botanicals, brings a juniper forward backbone with citrus and soft spice underneath, and that structure holds up well against Benedictine’s honey and herb intensity instead of getting lost in it.

Dolin Dry Vermouth adds a floral, slightly saline counterpoint that keeps the whole drink from tipping too sweet. To build the Caprice, add a dash of orange bitters to a mixing glass along with one and a half ounces each of the gin and the dry vermouth, then half an ounce of Benedictine, fill with ice, and stir until well chilled and slightly diluted. Strain into a chilled coupe and finish with an expressed orange twist, letting the citrus oils settle on the surface of the drink before dropping the peel in or discarding it. This is a cocktail that rewards patience in the stirring, since a fully diluted, properly cold pour is what keeps the Benedictine from tasting syrupy.

It makes a good aperitif before a meal built around goat cheese, cucumber salad, or grilled shrimp, and its lightly sweet profile also pairs surprisingly well with a lemon tart for dessert. Because it stirs down clean and low proof relative to a straight spirit pour, it is a reasonable choice for a slower, conversation paced evening, though as with any cocktail it is worth keeping an eye on your pace and drinking water alongside it.