Union Square

April 13, 2011 (Day 17) — Union Square

Another New York City-themed cocktail? Well, considering we’re working with New Amsterdam all week (our featured best-buy-booze of the week), it only makes sense that we’re going to see a lot of NYC landmarks.

This week you poor bastards have been subject to my armchair historian tendencies. It doesn’t stop now!

From www.nycgovparks.org:

For nearly 170 years Union Square has been a gathering place—for commerce, for entertainment, for labor and political events, and for recreation. The park owes its name to its location at the intersection—or union—of two major roads in New York City, Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and Bowery Road (now Fourth Avenue). When the Commissioner’s Plan, the famous gridiron of Manhattan streets and avenues, was projected in 1807, the former potter’s field at this intersection was designated as Union Place. The site was authorized by the State Legislature as a public place in 1831 and acquired by the City of New York in 1833.

We’ve had some crazy, dry winds across western Kansas the past several days, so a summery drink will hit the right spot this evening.

Union Square

• 2 oz New Amsterdam Gin
• 2 strawberries
• sprig of basil
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz agave nectar
• 1 strawberry for garnish

Muddle strawberries with the basil until fully mashed in a Boston shaker. Combine all the other ingredients together with cracked ice and then shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass.  Garnish with half a strawberry.

The Union Square is hella delicious. The sweetness of the News Amsterdam that can overwhelm the wrong drink plays to its strength in this drink. It’s incredibly smooth, and the strawberry and mint are the stars of this show.

Cheers!

— Mark