Well, another week has come to a close. October is almost here (gasp!) and with the slow changing of seasons Tokyo has become a very different place. When we first arrived in August, we were greeted by throngs of people partying along the Tamagawa River.
Last week, the addition of Silver Week (a week-long holiday for vacationing) brought additional hundreds of people to our area to enjoy the sunshine. Just as abruptly as they came, the crowds disappeared. It was as if someone had drawn a line indicating that play time was over and everyone has to go back to normal life.
This change has made our life simpler in many ways. There are fewer people on our bicycle path and the wide open space has gone back to being as quiet as it can be in the middle of a booming metropolis.
In the spirit of simplicity, this cocktail takes minimal preparation and has a beautifully uncomplicated presentation. Just what it takes to bring a little Zen to your weekend. With the combination of a little gin (or vodka), a spicy pepper, tart lemon juice and sweet honey, this cocktail has an ideal flavor combination. By adding just a small slice of the hot pepper to the cocktail shaker, the heat is subtle and adds a gentle heat to the back of your throat as you swallow. Just enough to add a little unique twist on what might otherwise be a boring drink.
The combination of spicy, sweet and tart flavors in this cocktail make it just perfect on its own or alongside a little appetizer. Enjoy your weekend everyone!
The Spicy Lemon
Makes 1 cocktail
3 oz. gin or vodka
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
teaspoon honey
1 small slice of red chili pepper (I used a scotch bonnet pepper, but you can chose a more mild pepper if you’d like as long as it’s flavor infuses the alcohol easily)
Slice of lemon and dried chili pepper for garnish
ice
Combine the ice, lemon juice, honey and pepper slice in a cocktail shaker. You know what to do…shake it!
Use the strainer to pour the drink over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with the lemon slice and dried chili pepper. Enjoy!
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