Expanding the Consciousness of Cocktail Culture
We were at a dinner party speaking on the subject of psychedelics. People were sharing their unimaginable experiences when a friend chimed in with a claim that tea can affect consciousness just as much as mushrooms.
Of course, consciousness is affected by any number of stimuli. Wearing a particular color or scent can alter anyone’s day for better or worse. We’ve all had moments when we’d have gladly paid $1,000 to use a restroom. Think of your state of mind before and after an orgasm.
As a beverage writer, my charge is not to write about liquids. It’s to write about aesthetics that happen to take on a liquid form. My aim is to alter consciousness by expanding our understanding of aesthetic possibility. Should this manifest as an inebriant, terrific. If by flavor and presentation, bravo. Or, as in this case, should it come as a CBD relaxant … well, that’s just cake.
Let Them Drink Cake
MAKES 1 COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
4 ounces Strawberry Coconut Cordial*
½ ounce lemon
Recess Strawberry Rose (about 2 ounces)
Decadent Garnish
DIRECTIONS
Combine cordial and lemon in a tumbler. Add ice and short shake. Double strain and pour into a chilled coupe, preferably vintage. Top with Recess Strawberry Rose, and garnish extravagantly.
*For the cordial: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. To this, add 1 quart of sliced strawberries and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Simmer, stirring, for another 5 minutes, but do not boil. Remove from heat and strain. When cool, combine strawberry syrup in equal proportion to coconut cream (I used Whole Foods 360 Organic Coconut Cream—it’s very thin and smooth, with no chunking up in the can), adding a scant ½ milliliter of vanilla extract.
