Poet’s Dream Cocktail Recipe

The Poet’s Dream cocktail is a beautifully named drink that is sure to serve as a major eye-catcher if it is listed on a cocktail menu. While the name might prompt many to try the drink out, it is the taste that will make them return a second time. Made of a delicate, almost fantastical blend of gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters, and Bénédictine, and complemented by the finishing touch of a curl of lemon zest as a garnish, the Poet’s Dream is a drink that can cause anyone to get lost in reverie.

Preparation Time: 4 minutes
Serving Size: Serves 1 person
Utensils: Cocktail shaker, cocktail glass

Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce Bénédictine
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Crushed ice
- A twist of lemon zest, for garnish

Instructions

1

Start preparing the Poet’s Dream by taking a cocktail shaker, and filling about a quarter of it with crushed ice. Shaking the drink in a cocktail shaker loaded with ice will chill the cocktail thoroughly, and you will not need to cool the drink in a refrigerator, or fill it with ice cubes.
2

Next, start adding the ingredients for the cocktail into the shaker, one by one. Add in the 1-1/2 ounces gin, 3/4 ounce dry vermouth, 1/2 ounce Bénédictine, and a dash of orange bitters. Then, screw on the lid of the cocktail shaker, making sure it is tight and secure.
3

Now, grasp the cocktail shaker firmly, and shake it vigorously for 15 seconds or so, until all the ingredients are well combined, and thoroughly mixed together. Once the cocktail has been blended completely, stop shaking and unscrew the lid of the cocktail shaker.
4

Take a cocktail glass, hold a strainer over it, and pour the cocktail into this. Finish by garnishing the drink with a curled lemon zest, for added visual appeal. Your Poet’s Dream cocktail is now ready – serve chilled.

Tips & Warnings
- If you are unable to use lemon zest for garnishing purposes, orange zest will also work well as a garnish for the Poet’s Dream cocktail. - An electric blender can also be used for mixing purposes, if you do not have a cocktail shaker; however, keep in mind that the finished product should be a cocktail that is smooth and clear. Blending the drink on too high a speed, or for too long, will give it a frothy texture and cloudy appearance. At most, run the drink through a blender set on low speed for 8 seconds.