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Blinker (Hawksmoor's Riff)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (52)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
3 fresh Raspberries
2 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
1/2 fl oz Pink grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
1/4 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Waterford Mixology Coupe Clear

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

  1. MUDDLE raspberries in base of shaker.
  2. Add other ingredients.
  3. SHAKE with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

We don't have enough information to calculate the alc./vol., but based on known ingredients, this recipe contains at least:

  • 23.7 grams of pure alcohol
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History

Adapted from a recipe discovered in 2013 at Hawksmoor in Spitalfields, London, England.

Review

The original Blinker from Patrick Gavin Duffy's 1934 The Official Mixer's Manual uses grenadine but the folk at Hawksmoor have switched this for a few fresh raspberries and a dash of sugar syrup, turning a good drink into a great cocktail.

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Comments & Discussion

Susie Bright Premium Member
How do I love this cocktail! I was making Ted Haigh’s version in the past, where he uses raspberry syrup and a some slight variations in the ratios, but this is MY FAVE as of today. I live in “berry-growing” country and fresh raspberries, as well as fresh grapefruits, are easy to pick. Go ahead, move to California!
score: 1
Florian Ruf Premium Member
This time I made it with Sazerac rye. Although I like this brand I find it too dominant for this cocktail and it was necessary to adjust the other ingredients.
score: 1
Elise
I like the flavours but accidentally put double grapefruit, bit too sour so I ended up just throwing it into a collins and adding cranberry juice to make a long drink. Beautiful.
score: 1
G. M. Genovese Premium Member
Just tried this twice. The second shake, with great grenadine, leaves this tasting a little too much like a Jack Rose somehow... Had no berries on site, so I subbed with creme de mure for the first shake, and that's where it's at. It's not perfect, but much more characterful.
score: 1
Yorey C
not enough raspberry! :) made with kirkland irish
score: 1
Yorey C
is there a point in not muddling the berries?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Agreed. Better if raspberries are muddled. I've added this to the method above.
score: 0
Robert Blumstein
Should this recipe call for muddling the raspberries? I noticed it wasn't mentioned and figured the ice would do the trick, but when I cleaned out the shaker it looked like they froze solid and didn't release all their juice.
score: 1
Landon Brown
Yes, I think muddling the raspberries is the only way you're going to get much of their flavour into the cocktail. I can't recall a shaken drink that calls for berries without muddling them first. I made this the other night using a raspberry syrup (was OKAY), which is a better option if you have it available.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Flavourful. Slightly boozy. Medium dry with bursts of various tastes. Would recommend.
score: 1
Jeremy Harrold
I didn’t have any raspberries to hand so I used a generous bar spoon of Raspberry Jam and a splash of sugar syrup. The Rye whiskey ‘just’ cuts through the grapefruit and jam get together to prove it’s there. Very good.
score: 2