Liquid Gold
Bright, golden, and crisp like the winter sun, this extraordinary elixir is liquid sunshine. With a rich, earthy warmth, the coconut golden milk float wraps the bright turmeric-ginger-orange gin mix like a six second hug–you know, a REAL hug. If happiness were a drink, this would be it and if Yukon Cornelius were a mixologist, he would have invented this cocktail: Liquid Gold.
Recipe
Cocktail Ingredients (makes 1 cocktail)
.5 oz Cointreau
⅛ cup coconut cream
¼ tsp golden milk powder
Garnish: ground turmeric
Cocktail Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, mix gin, Cointreau, syrup, ice, and shake!
Pour into a small, cute glass (I get all my glasses at thrift stores)
For the coconut cream float, in a small bowl or jar mix coconut cream and golden milk powder with a small whisk, pour gently into cocktail, smooth out the coconut cream by making small circular motions with a toothpick (see video on IG)
Lightly sprinkle powdered turmeric over the coconut cream
Enjoy!
Cocktail Inspiration & Evolution
On an unusual chilly afternoon, while sipping a golden milk latte, I wondered how I could jam some turmeric and coconut into a tasty adult beverage. My first attempts involved rum and Orgeat, thinking that a warm nutty base would balance a golden coconut milk cream float plus, rum and Orgeat go well in many a tropical cocktail. My first attempts were awful. I’m not a huge rum person to begin with, but the drink was poorly balanced. It wanted someone. I tried lime, thinking the drink needed more citrus. It was undrinkable. Down the drain. I tried Cointreau, having previously had a golden milk latte with strong notes of orange. Still not right, and certainly not reminiscent of golden milk. Back to the drawing board.
The cocktail needed a stronger turmeric element, better balance, and a lighter spirit. I gave up on the rum and reached for gin, not just any gin: Stillweather Spirits West Coast Gin. This is my absolute favorite gin, with a cucumber nose and a delightful mix of flavors including juniper, lemon and white pepper. To make a flavorful turmeric elixir, I decided to play with turmeric and ginger in the form of a simple syrup and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result! The sweet, earthy Turmeric Ginger Simple Syrup with the warm citrus of the Cointreau, paired perfectly with the clean, bright gin.
Worried that the coconut cream would curdle, because it did curdle in early iterations of the drink, I opted for a coconut cream float. Wanting to lean even further into the gloriousness of golden milk, I mixed the coconut cream with golden milk powder and sprinkled ground turmeric on top.
I love this cocktail so much! I’m sure it’s not for everyone but, to me, it’s perfect.
Please check out the rest of this year’s holiday concoctions:
