Northern Rice
Refreshing and subtly sweet, with notes of pandan and sticky rice, custard, and shiso.
Inspired by: Cure (New Orleans)
Rum Penicillin
A warming sour: Choeng Doi Blanc with fresh ginger, honey, lime, and a Scotch smoke finish.
- Complexity
- 4/5
- Alcohol level
- Strong
- Type
- Sour
- Preparation
- Shaken
- Glass
- Old Fashioned
- Ice
- Fresh Ice
Ingredients
Choeng Doi Blanc45 ml1.5 oz
Fresh lime juice30 ml1 oz
Ginger syrup15 ml0.5 oz
Honey syrup15 ml0.5 oz
Angostura bitters5 drops
Peated Scotch3 spray atomizer
Garnish: Dehydrated lime wheel1
Ginger Syrup: Fresh ginger juice1 part
Ginger Syrup: White sugar1 part
Honey Syrup: Honey2 parts
Honey Syrup: Boiling water1 part
Steps
- 01For Ginger Syrup: Blend fresh ginger and strain to extract juice. Combine 1 part ginger juice with 1 part white sugar in blender until smooth
- 02For Honey Syrup: Combine 2 parts honey with 1 part boiling water, stir to combine, cool completely
- 03Combine Choeng Doi Blanc, lime juice, ginger syrup, honey syrup and bitters in shaker
- 04Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds
- 05Double-strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice
- 06Garnish with dehydrated lime wheel
- 07Finish with 3 sprays of peated Scotch from an atomizer
Notes
A modern riff on the classic Penicillin that swaps Scotch for rum while keeping the healing spice profile. Ginger syrup must be made fresh (never cooked) to preserve aromatic compounds. The honey syrup rounds sharp edges while the Scotch spray adds smoke without overpowering.
Batched Version: Prepare ginger and honey syrups in advance. Batch the liquid ingredients minus bitters and Scotch. Add bitters and spray atomizer garnish just before service.
History
The Penicillin was invented at Seasonal Restaurants by Sam Ross in 2005 as a medicinal-style sour combining ginger, honey and Scotch - ingredients traditionally used for colds. The name plays on both its warming properties and the accidental discovery of penicillin.
This rum version maintains the spirit of healing warmth while letting Choeng Doi Blanc's agricultural character shine through the spice. It's a drink that rewards slow sipping.
In the bottle
Choeng Doi Blanc. Perpetual blend, edition no. 2. Pure sugarcane juice, copper pot and column still. 70 cL.
Choeng Doi Blanc
