Ed and I enjoyed this cocktail while dining at the Kimberton Inn (Kimberton, Pennsylvania) in January. What better time to share a Love Letter cocktail than for St. Valentine’s Day?
This brought to mind the play of (almost) the same name – Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. The only two characters in this play read aloud a series of letters, notes and cards written to each other over fifty years. I’ve only seen it performed once by two very special people from my Franklin & Marshall College life – President Dick Kneedler and Vice President Alice Drum. They took to the stage in the late 1990s to perform for a limited run including a visit to Philadelphia for an alumni event. It was delightful seeing them in these non-traditional roles. In case you are wondering how people with busy jobs memorized all of their lines – no need, they were reading (with appropriate emotion) the letters as written.
The Kimberton Inn’s manager, Jason Irrang, was kind enough to show us how to make a Love Letter. Usually, I’m guided by the ingredients listed on the cocktail menu and taste, so this was a treat. This drink is a take on a classic French 75 (gin, lemon juice and simple syrup topped with sparkling wine). This variation includes lime juice (in place of lemon juice), Maraschino liqueur and cherry juice (from the jar of Luxardo cherries) plus gin, sparkling wine and simple syrup.
The most common Maraschino liqueur is Luxardo (notice a theme?) and is actually clear. This was surprising to me when I first encountered it. It tastes nothing like the cherries found in the Shirley Temples of our youth. If it’s not currently in your bar, I recommend adding it as you will be surprised at the variety of drinks that call for it. You can learn more about Maraschino liqueurs in Liquor.com’s 7 Maraschino Liqueurs to Try Right Now.
The final result is a drink with a mild cherry flavor and lovely red hue. You should smell the lime with each sip so don’t forget a big twist. Ed employed a channel knife for these twists. This drink is perfect any time of year but particularly for St. Valentine’s Day. Looking for another variation of a French 75, try a Pamplemousse 75 (grapefruit in place of lemon).
For my local family and friends, next time you’re at the Kimberton Inn, please be sure to try one from the original source. The Kimberton Inn has a great menu and top-notch service. Plus they have put together a very thoughtful wine list made up of wine from wineries practicing sustainable agriculture, practicing and/or certified organic, or practicing and/or certified biodynamic.
| Love Letter | Print |
- ¾ ounce neutral gin
- ¾ ounce Maraschino Liqueur (see Notes)
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (~ 1 lime) (see Notes)
- ½ ounce syrup from Luxardo cherries (see Notes)
- ¼ ounce simple syrup (see Notes)
- 2 to 3 ounces sparkling wine
- Garnish with a long lime twist
- Mix gin, Maraschino Liqueur, lime juice, cherry syrup and simple syrup in a Champagne flute.
- Top with sparkling wine and garnish a long lime twist.
* Pour off some of the syrup from a jar of Luxardo cherries.
* Before squeezing a lime, heat it in a microwave for about 30 seconds and then rub it back and forth on the counter top. This easy two-step process results in more juice per piece of fruit.
SIMPLE SYRUP
1 cup (8 ounces) water
1 cup granulated sugar
Bring the water to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the sugar and stir until it completely dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Pour the syrup into a clean 1-pint bottle, cap it and refrigerate it until needed. Makes 1½ cups and keeps two months or longer in the refrigerator.
Source: Adapted from the Kimberton Inn
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