A Beautiful Friendship

A Beautiful Friendship

A globally inspired gin-based cocktail that blends floral elderflower, warm peach schnapps, spicy Moroccan hot honey, and Italian Amaro to reflect Casablanca’s cultural crossroads and the unlikely alliances forged in the film. (Recipe Below)

Inspired by a much repeated line in Casablanca, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of A Beautiful Friendship”. The flavors in this cocktail are inspired by the region of Casablanca as a melting pot forced by those trying to evacuate away from the war. Gin is used for its herbal and biting citrus flavors easily found in Rick's Gin Joint. Elderflower Liqueur is always a gently sweet and floral liqueur that goes so well with Gin. We put it in this cocktail as the French influence on the region. Peach Schnapps is a spirit that originated from regions of Germany, and while Germany did not have complete control over Casablanca, they certainly had a strong influence. In A Beautiful Friendship cocktail, the small amount of Peach Schnapps adds a deeper, warmer flavor, and is the perfect platform for the Hot Honey, which is characteristic of the sweetener and spice used in Moroccan culture. Additional spices are brought in with Peychaud's bitters, originating from New Orleans as a nod to Rick's devoted piano player, Sam. Finally, the other base spirit in this cocktail, Amaro Montenegro an Italian bitter, a slightly sweet liqueur with a touch of lemon that freshens and gathers all of the flavors together to make a deliciously cohesive cocktail. Sounds like A Beautiful Friendship.

What was Ilsa up to? She was obviously conflicted between the man she devoted herself to before the war separated them and the man she found respite in during the war and that she would have to turn to for aid in her and her husband's escape from the Germans. Tough decisions will be made. Thankfully, you'll have two cocktails to drink while they're making them.

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1.5 oz (45mL) Gin

1.5 oz (45mL) Amaro Montenegro

.5 oz (15mL) Elderflower Liqueur

.25 oz (15mL) Peach Schnapps

.25 oz (15mL) Hot Honey Syrup

4 Dashes Peychaud's Bitters

In a Mixing glass, combine 1.5 oz Gin, 1.5 oz Amaro Montenegro, .5 oz Elderflower Liqueur, .25 oz Peach Schnapps, .25 oz Hot Honey Syrup, and 4 dashes of Peychaud's Bitters. Add ice and stir until chilled and strain into a coupe glass. Express a lemon peel on top and clip to the edge of the glass.

Hot Honey Cocktail Syrup

4 oz (120 mL/113.5 g) Honey

4 oz (120 mL/113.5 g) Water

1 Tbs (30 g) Red Pepper Flakes

Pinch Salt

In a saucepan, combine Honey, Water, Red Pepper Flakes and Salt. Place on medium low heat and stir to combine. Allow to come to a slight boil and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Fine strain into a syrup container. Store in a cool, dark place.

Aviation Gin

84 proof/42% ABV
Diageo Company
A dry gin that balances citrus and herbal notes to make it a clean, multipurpose gin.
Amaro Montenegro

46 proof/23% ABV
Montenegro S.R.L.
Characterized as a bitter liqueur, it is a blend of sweet and bitter oranges, 40 different herbs, an no added sweeteners. The result is a mildly bittersweet liqueur with lightly vegetal and warming spice notes.
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

40 proof/20% ABV
Bacardi Limited
A favorite amongst cocktail makers, elderflower liqueur is pleasantly floral and sweet, reminiscent of clover honey. Its familiar flavor makes it easy for the palate to accept while enhancing other flavors in a cocktail.
D'arton Creme De Peche

30 proof/ 15% ABV
Chateau D'Arton
Made from heirloom peaches in France harvested during the grape harvest. The flavor is of warm peaches and sweet, but not syrupy like commercially produced peach schnapps.
Hot Honey Syrup

Easy to make at home, hot honey syrup is a great way to add the flavor of heat that is already balanced by a floral sweetness.
Peychaud's Bitters

70 proof/ 35% ABV
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Originally sold as an aperitive in French New Orleans, Peychaud's is a gentian-based bitter which is characteristic of strong anise or fennel flavors. Additional botanicals contribute to it's light mint flavors. Peychaud's adds a nice red color while freshening a cocktail with just a few dashes.

Casablanca: A Timeless Tale of Love, Sacrifice and Wartime Intrigue- Inspiring Two Cocktails

Set in 1941 Casablanca, Casablanca follows nightclub owner Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, who is unexpectedly reunited with his former lover Ilsa, leading to a complex love triangle amidst wartime tension. The first cocktail, "As Time Goes By" is inspired by the iconic song in the film and features Cointreau, white rum, grapefruit, lime, and Kirsch liqueur, creating a sweet, citrusy drink that evokes the past and the song's emotional weight. The second cocktail, "A Beautiful Friendship" blends gin, elderflower liqueur, peach schnapps, hot honey, Peychaud’s bitters, and Amaro Montenegro, reflecting the cultural melting pot of Casablanca with its herbal, floral, and spicy flavors. The cocktails mirror the characters’ internal struggles, much like Ilsa’s emotional conflict between Rick and her husband. In the end, Casablanca offers a story of tough decisions, love, and loss, paired perfectly with two thematic cocktails to sip as the drama unfolds.