blanche dubois

2 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
1/2 oz Senior Curaçao
1/2 oz Housemade Orgeat
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1 Strawberry
6-8 Mint Leaves

Muddle the strawberry, add rest of the ingredients, and shake with ice. Double strain into a rocks glass, fill with ice, and garnish with a mint sprig.

Like 2011, I ended my Sunday night of Tales of the Cocktail on Rampart Street having a low key night at Bar Tonique. After indulging in their Sunday $5 Mai Tai drink special (something that could never happen in Massachusetts), I decided to follow it up with a house original that looked like a gin and lemon riff on a Mai Tai with strawberry and mint also in attendance. The drink was created circa 2012 by bar owner Ed Diaz and pays tribute to Tennessee William's character in A Streetcar Named Desire that was set in New Orleans.
Bartender Tony Lamperti confirmed that it was the same general specs as the house Mai Tai that I just had, and the Blanche DuBois that he made for me offered strawberry aromas in addition to the mint. Lemon and berry on the sip transferred to juniper, strawberry, and almond on the swallow and mint on the finish. While retaining the delightful balance of a Mai Tai, this recipe took the structure in a entirely different flavor direction.