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Today I share with you a unique yet comforting winter cocktail that will warm you right up in these cold months: the Indian Winter. It is a cardamom cocktail, featuring cardamom honey simple syrup. Read on to learn how to make this crazy tasty beverage!
Last month on the blog, I posted my ultimate guide to making homemade simple syrups, which I absolutely love to make. Just ask my fiancé, our fridge is filled with them! I love how elegant they can make a cocktail, and how easy it becomes to elevate your drinks from a simple vodka tonic to something special and unique. This cocktail is the perfect example!
I bought a bag of cardamom pods at the market a while back and have been just waiting for the perfect recipe in which to feature them. Which is how I came to use cardamom in this simple syrup. The syrup uses equal parts of honey and water instead of the usual sugar and water combination. Then I add the cardamom pods and allow them to steep as the syrup comes to room temperature.
I wanted to keep the rest of the cocktail simple, with just vodka, lemon juice, and egg white. I finished it off with Angostura bitters (my fav!) and a single star anise. I love that as you slowly sip your beverage, the aroma of the star anise helps to bring out the notes of cardamom from the drink!
Let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below, or if you made the recipe, take a photo and tag @thecharmingdetroiter on Instagram!
- 1 ½ oz. vodka
- ½ oz. honey cardamom simple syrup (see below)
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- 1 egg white
- 1-2 drops Angostura bitters
- 1 star anise
- Ice
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup honey
- 4-5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, honey, and cardamom pods. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is homogenous. Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. Using a fine mesh sieve, strain the simple syrup into an airtight jar. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
- Fill a lowball glass with ice water and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. Shake vigorously to combine for 20-25 seconds. Empty ice water from lowball glass and strain contents of shaker into the glass. Garnish with bitters and a star anise, if desired. Alternatively, cocktail can be served with a large sphere or square ice cube also, or whiskey cubes.
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Sarah is a food blogger from Metro Detroit who believes that gourmet food should be accessible to all home cooks. 
Hello, Can this be made as a batch for a party? Will the egg whites separate too much for this? I would like to make this for a party we are having after the new year. I plan to make the syrup ahead, but can the cocktail be made/assembled ahead? How long (hours) before the party do you think it would “keep?” Thank you!
Edie, Hello and thanks for your comment! Because of the egg white, you’re right: I would be concerned about separation. Usually, because of the egg whites these cocktails need to be made to order.
What you could try to do (although I have not yet tried this, but it seems like it may be feasible) is to make a batch of the cocktail and leave out the egg whites. Then, as the guests at your party would like a cocktail, you could shake just one or two egg whites (for one or two cocktails) at a time in a shaker, add some of the premixed cocktail to the shaker with some ice, and then shake well to make sure the cocktail is properly mixed before serving. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions!