WOO! Y’ALL! Something really exciting happened to me!

A couple of days ago, I received a fabulous box from Robb Vices containing Glenmorangie Original + their Glencairn glass, The Earl of Harlem Ambessa tea created by chef Marcus Samuelsson, and a pair of sunglasses from Finlay & Co. Best part of this magical box was that it just showed up out of the blue! OUT OF THE BLUE Y’ALL!

A note was included from the communications director at Glenmorangie to enjoy the Scotch and cocktail, so I shall share its contents with all of you.

The theme of this Robb Vices box was “wood”, hence these wooden Finlay & Co. sunglasses made from sustainable hardwood. I’ll be lookin like a 1970s California State Trooper in these. Yeaaaaah!

Now onto the tasty part: chef Marcus Samuelsson and Glenmorangie are launching a partnership filled with tasty pairings and cocktail recipes! This tea, The Earl of Harlem, was created by Harney & Sons with chef Samuelsson and has classic Earl Grey notes but also a darker smokey quality.

Coming from someone who enjoys their cuppa every day: this is a VERY GOOD TEA! It’s deep, rich, fruity, earthy, and smoked. I looooove it.

Next, a bottle of Glenmorangie Original Single Malt Scotch + glencairn + cover. (It has a hat! The glassware has a hat!) For those of you unfamiliar with Glenmorangie scotches, they are on the “flora & fauna” end of Scotch Whiskies, have excellent citrus, fruity, & floral notes, great vanilla + malted notes, and are really well balanced.

The Robb Vices booklet included a recipe for the Earl of Harlem Cocktail, a Glenmorangie Original Single Malt Scotch + Ambessa Earl of Harlem Tea cocktail. I was definitely pumped to make this!

This cocktail calls for a tea syrup.

The Earl of Harlem Cocktail Syrup Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Water
• 2 cups of Honey
• 4 Sachets of The Earl of Harlem Tea
• 3 pieces of dried Chili Pepper (I had Ancho Chile peppers)
• 1 tbsp Coriander Seed (I had dried Coriander powder)

Instructions:

1. In a sauce pot, heat Water, Honey, Coriander, and Chili peppers and bring to a simmer for around 5 minutes.
2. Add the tea sachets and steep for around 20 minutes.
3. Strain into a container and let cool to room temperature.

When complete, you’ll have a magnificent bottle of sultry, smokey, delectable tea syrup. It’s legit the bomb. It might be the best tea syrup I’ve ever tasted, and it goes so damn well with Glenmorangie Original Scotch!

Ok, so now we have the syrup, let’s make The Earl of Harlem cocktail.

Our lovely ingredients.

The instructions for this cocktail were given in a large batch format. I will give both the original recipe and a recipe I tweaked for one serving.

The Earl of Harlem Cocktail (Original recipe, large format)

• 8 oz Glenmorangie Original Single Malt Scotch
• 8 oz Earl of Harlem Syrup
• splash of Lemon Juice
• Garnish: Orange peel

Combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Strain into Rocks glass over ice and garnish.

The Earl of Harlem Cocktail (for one)

• 1 1/2 oz Glenmorangie Original Single Malt Scotch
• 1 1/2 oz Earl of Harlem Syrup*
• barspoon Lemon Juice
• Garnish: Orange peel

Combine ingredients over ice and short shake. Strain into double Rocks glass over ice and garnish.

*Now you are probably thinking, “gurrrrl a 1:1 ratio of syrup to Scotch? Isn’t that a lot of syrup?” I’m fully with you on this. If you think it’s too sweet, I’d go 1 1/2 oz Scotch to 1 oz Syrup but honestly, the syrup is not too sweet and compliments the Scotch very well.

And there you have it! The Earl of Harlem Cocktail is a great pairing of two delicious forces. Thanks to Glenmorangie for sending me this fabulous package and I cant wait to taste more from their partnership with Marcus Samuelsson!