Finnish Renewal
Finnish Renewal is a flavorful tea cocktail featuring Kyrö Dark Gin and Earl Grey tea that will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.
With Spring just on the horizon and plenty of crisp winter lingering in the air, I still crave warmth and cozy pleasures. Tea is something that I love to drink in many different forms all year round. The idea of a soothing tea cocktail like the Finnish Renewal seems right for the last cold days before springing into a lighter and brighter season. Tea adds so much complexity when used in a warmed or chilled cocktail. Combining tea with a unique spirit like Kyrö Dark Gin from Finland gives so much lovely flavor to savor!
Kyrö Distillery:
Kyrö Distillery was born of an idea amongst a group of friends drinking rye whisky in a Finnish sauna. They pondered why no one in Finland was making rye whisky and decided to start a distillery of their own. The distilling started in an old dairy, and while the first batch was resting in barrels the friends decided they needed something else to sell while waiting–gin. The gin was enthusiastically received by the public and the press. It is made from 100% Finnish wholegrain rye and infused with 17 spices and botanicals. It is an elegant, smooth gin for sipping and also delightful in the Finnish Renewal cocktail. The gin’s hints of honey, orange, and white flowers combine perfectly with the lemon, honey, and rose-flavored Earl Grey tea. You can learn more about Kyrö Distillery and its products here.
Crafting the Finnish Renewal:
Start with brewing a flavorful tea. Earl Grey is a tea blend flavored with the oil of bergamot. Bergamot is a citrus that is prized for the super fragrant essential oil extracted from its rind. The aroma is somewhat musky and floral and the fruit itself is extremely sour. I happen to love the Teakoe brand, Rose Earl Grey.
This version contains black tea and natural bergamot oil flavor, as well as rose petals and orange zest. Cut open one of the tea bags and sprinkle it into the Kyrö dark gin. This will infuse the tea flavor right into the lovely Kyrö botanicals.
Allow the tea to infuse for 2 hours at room temperature (I like to add the tea leaves and gin together in a mason jar). Strain the gin through a fine mesh or cheese cloth.
While the gin is infusing, make a honey syrup. Mix a bit of raw honey of your favorite variety with a touch of very hot water to make a syrup consistency. I use a local Colorado wildflower honey.
Enjoying the Finnish Renewal:
Select your desired cocktail option: warmed or chilled. The cocktail is delicious either way, depending on your mood and the weather! For a warm toddy, combine the infused gin with a bit of fresh lemon juice and the honey syrup to taste. Warm gently in a teacup. Combine all of the above ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice for a refreshing chilled version. Shake and strain into your teacup. Now sit back, relax, and refresh!
Finnish Renewal
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Kyrö Dark Gin
- 2 bags Teakoe Rose Earl Grey, or other high-quality Earl Grey whole-leaf tea
- ¼ cup raw wildflower honey
- Hot water, as needed
- Fresh lemons, for juice and garnish
Instructions
Rose Earl Grey Infused Kyrö Dark Gin:
- Pour the gin into a mason jar.
- Cut open tea bags and add the loose tea to the gin. Cover and infuse at room temperature for 2 hours.
Honey Syrup:
- Add honey to a small glass jar or bowl.
- Add just enough hot water to make a syrup consistency. Cover and set aside..
For a Warm Cocktail:
- Combine 2 ounces of Rose Earl Grey Infused Kyrö Dark Gin with ½ ounce fresh lemon juice and ½ ounce honey syrup (or to taste). Warm together in a tea cup and serve with a lemon wedge.
For a Chilled Cocktail:
- Combine the above amounts of gin, lemon juice and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a tea cup and serve with a lemon wedge.
