I talk about the weather a lot on this blog. And it really does make sense, because I like to create (and drink) cocktails according to the seasons. So, I’m not just rambling on about nonsense, people. But also, I’m a New Yorker…and that’s what we do. We live in a place of extremes. We’re constantly talking about it, mostly in short spurts; in elevators with strangers, to our doormen, the corner Bodega guy, our cabbie. We schvitz, we gripe, we blame the humidity, we bitch about the a.c., the wind “cuts right through” us, and the winter never seems to end. But in the beginning, we usually revel the shift in seasons. Especially FALL.

I think we all can agree that fall is the best. We like to talk about that too. About how great the cool, crisp air feels, and how the garbage doesn’t hardly smell because of it! Also, about all the new foods we can make and eat and the clothes we can finally wear…to hide our cooler weather weight gain. We will flood your Instagram feed with colorful foliage and pumpkin spiced everything, and eat outside, shivering under a broken heat lamp until the cafés won’t serve us there anymore. It’s a fleeting time and New Yorkers really do try to get the most out of it. Because, winter. But luckily, this year, we’ve been having one of those unseasonably warm autumns. Not too warm, to make us forget what season it is. But, just right. Like, we can still eat dinner outside with a sweater or jacket on and get an ever-so-slight chill that is quickly quelled by an upturned collar or an extra tuck of a scarf and then is completely vanquished by the steaming, hot butternut squash soup that gets placed before you. I’m pretty sure this is what it means to have an “Indian Summer”. And I never want it to end.

This drink was inspired by this Indian Summer we seem to be having. Gin is often associated with summer, but the Bombay Sapphire East, infused with Vietnamese black peppercorn and Thai lemongrass, lends an exotic, any-season quality to a cocktail. I’ve been wanting to use limoncello in a recipe ever since my travels through Italy this past summer and I’ve since gotten my hands on one of the most popular ones coming out of The Boot: Limoncello di Capri. I thought this might be my last chance in a while to use this sunny ingredient. And, since I had decided to make rose hip syrup for the Phoenicia Flea a few weekends ago, I thought the tart and tangy flavor of this syrup would work beautifully in a gimlet with these other ingredients…

And rose hips are very much of the season! While I’ve used these little fruits in dried form, this happens to be rose hip harvesting season. In the UK, and other parts of the world, people often stock up on these little beauties to ward off colds in the winter because of their high level of Vitamin C - 20 x more than oranges! They have a wonderful tea-like quality and in the Indian Summer cocktail, the acidity helps to bring out the botanicals in the gin and is a great match for the limoncello.

Indian Summer Gimlet
2 1/2 oz Bombay Sapphire East Gin
1/4 oz Limoncello di Capri
3/4 oz Rose Hip Syrup
1/2 oz Lime Juice

Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. Shake until the outside of the shaker is ice cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Giveaway!!!
To make this cocktail, you’ll need rose hip syrup, of course. You can either make it yourself, OR you can enter to win two bottles of Bit by a Fox Rose Hip Cocktail Syrups! To enter the contest, simply write in the comments section below your absolute favorite thing(s) about fall! And I’ll pick a winner by the end of the week. That’s it! Easy as pumpkin pie! ← One of MY favorite things about fall!