The Theresa Cocktail
Contributed by on Sep 24, 2014
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“I’m at a loss to fathom how this dedicated cocktailian (Rafael Ballesteros) put these flavors together in his head but the resultant drink is a complex marvel”.
-Gary Regan, The Joy of Mixology
I couldn’t agree with Mr. Regan more.
I came across the Theresa cocktail on one of my many forays into the world wide web aka that famous/infamous black hole which seems to swallow up inordinate amounts of my time. But in this case, that time was extremely well spent.
Because I discovered the Theresa cocktail.
And if you’ve yet to try it – well you should. Because it’s pretty darn perfect and with only three readily available ingredients and a gorgeous color…. well, why not????
Yes, it’s base is Compari – which I know is one of those “love/hate” liquors. But if you’ve tried Negroni’s and Americano’s and decided that Compari just isn’t your thing… well, you should give it another try.
In this cocktail… and be prepared to change your mind.
As I said, the Theresa cocktail is a simple one – Compari, freshly squeezed lime juice and Creme de Cassis. No fancy syrups or gastriques, no infusions, no liquor washing – just a straightforward combination that you can mix and have in hand in 5 minutes – and on that basis alone the Theresa has much to recommend it.
But ease of preparation alone isn’t what makes this cocktail so beguiling. It’s the complexity that captivates – it’s sweet, tart and juicy with a beautiful grapefruit bitterness on the finish making it an ideal apperitif cocktail. Served in a lovely cocktail glass, the Theresa makes a gorgeous start to a meal – and with a relatively low alcohol content won’t ruin your tastebuds or your appetite.
So what are you waiting for????
- 2 oz. Compari
- 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ oz. Creme de Cassis
- Fill a shaker with ice. Add the Compari, lime juice and Creme de Cassis. Shake for 30 seconds. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Enjoy!!
