Featherweight

This gin highball uses spices instead of sugar and tonic, to create a refreshing and complex beverage that still uses just a few ingredients. It's perfect as an aperitif or for sipping on a porch or stoop on a hot day.

Author

Christian Leue

Servings

2

Category

Drink

Ingredients

• 4 ounces of Japanese gin (prefer 135° East Gin)
• A few sansho pepper pods
• 1/8 of a Moroccan-style preserved lemon, plus 1/2 tsp brine
• Seltzer
• Fresh lemon wheel for garnish, and optionally more preserved lemon peel

Directions

1. Muddle the lemon, brine, and sansho with the gin.
2. Prep two 12-ounce Collins glasses by filling them with ice and giving each a stir to chill them. Gently pour out any accumulated meltwater.
3. Fine strain the infused gin, dividing between the two glasses. Fill with seltzer and give each a quick and gentle stir.
4. Garnish with the lemon wheel and serve with a straw.