The Trinidad Sour Cocktail is a romantic cocktail with love potion written all over it. With a deep crimson color and seductive flavor, this is definitely one you’ll want to have on hand for that special night.
I’ve known Jamie since college. It’s always seemed to me that the friends you make in college are the most intimate because they get to know you at such a vulnerable time in your life. Everybody freaks out in some way when they hit college, and our college friends have the great pleasure of reminding us about it for the rest of our lives. He came over the other night to watch a game; I cooked, he brought the drinks. He’s one of the most well read, creative, and multi talented people I know, and whenever we get together it’s a sure bet I’ll be introduced to something new. Like this Trinidad Sour. He didn’t tell us what was in it, he just set about making them at the kitchen sink, and handed us our glasses. The color is stunning, don’t you think?
Let’s dig in
Trinidad Sour backstory
The Trinidad Sour is a contemporary cocktail, created in 2009 by bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez at the Clover Club in Brooklyn, New York. It gained popularity for its unconventional use of Angostura bitters as the main ingredient rather than a finishing touch to a cocktail.
The name “Trinidad Sour” is a nod to the fact that Angostura bitters is produced in Trinidad and Tobago.
If you love a great cocktail and are at all interested in what’s happening in modern mixology, the Trinidad Sour is a must try.
ingredients for a Trinidad Sour Cocktail
It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day cocktail, and it isn’t just the color, the taste will blow you and your Valentine away. It’s an unusual recipe, calling for equal parts bitters and orgeat syrup, along with lemon juice and rye whiskey. The orgeat syrup is made from almonds, sugar, and orange blossom water. How luscious is that?
- Angostura bitters
- Angostura bitters have a complex aromatic profile with notes of spices, herbs, and citrus. They’re an important element in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan.
- orgeat syrup
- a non-alcoholic flavoring syrup.
- lemon juice
- it’s what puts the sour in Trinidad Sour.
- rye whiskey
- rye is a bit spicier and more robust than other types of whiskey.
Orgeat syrup is a sweet, almond-flavored syrup often used in cocktails and desserts. It’s made with almonds, sugar, water, and sometimes rose water or orange flower water for an extra floral aroma. It’s an essential ingredient in lots of cocktails, and so you should definitely stock a bottle in your home bar.
Angustura Bitters, made in Trinidad, were first bottled in the 1820s as a tonic by a German doctor in Venezuela. The taste is intense, and normally you’d use just a dash or two in a drink recipe. An entire ounce of bitters gives the Trinidad Sour a very unique flavor. But the drink isn’t bitter, in fact it’s quite sweet, with a vibrant almond/cherry flavor.
How to make a Trinidad Sour cocktail
- Put the bitters, orgeat syrup, lemon juice, and rye into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
What to expect
Initially the Trinidad Sour faced resistance due to its unconventional use of bitters, but the drink gained popularity pretty quickly through word-of-mouth and rave reviews that spread through the mixology world.
This is not your typical sweet and fruity cocktail, that’s for sure. Instead, it delivers a complex experience with sweet, tart, bitter, and spicy notes.
- Intriguing and mysterious: The unexpected bitterness and depth of flavor is surprising.
- Sophisticated and refined: The balanced profile and rich texture offer a more nuanced experience than so many of the overly sweet cocktails popular today.
- Bold and assertive: The prominent spice and bitterness might not be for everyone, but its unique character excites adventurous palates!
There’s no way around it, this is one unique cocktail, you’ll have to try it and see for yourself!
The Trinidad Sour
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 1 oz Angostura Aromatic bitters
- 1 oz orgeat syrup
- 3/4 oz lemon juice, about 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 oz rye whiskey
Instructions
- Shake well with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
I have those same glasses. They were my grandmothers.
Princess House. Don’t know if they are still made, but there is usually some listed on eBay.
Love that!
I’m not much of a mixed drink person but this has totally won me over!
I’m looking forward to trying the syrup in baking. And Torani makes lots of different flavored syrups that are used in coffees as well as drinks, so it’ll be a whole new adventure exploring them, too.