TASTE: PEARLESCENCE, Itameshi
In Albany’s Warehouse District, Itameshi’s Bar Director Will Hoschek takes inspiration from rock samphire for a “Vesper for a mermaid princess.”
Words: Susie Davidson Powell
Photos: Victoria Sedefian/The Dishing
Location: Itameshi, Albany, N.Y.
The cocktail: Pearlescence
The ingredients: Mermaid Zest Isle of Wight Gin, Haku Japanese Vodka, Alpe Achillea Italian Liqueur, Dolin Chamberyzette French Strawberry Aperitif, Cocchi Americano Italian Aperitivo
The inspiration: “It’s inspired by the Vesper, a polarizing and strong cocktail. I basically imagined a softer, lighter iteration and found myself with a beautiful light pink cocktail with a sort of glowy pearlescence to it when held up to the light. I was originally going to name it after a Bond girl but reading through my options most of them were either innocuous or less than appropriate. The leading botanical in Mermaid gin is rock samphire, otherwise known as mermaid’s kiss, so I went with a more nautical theme. I would describe the drink as “A vesper for a princess,” but I guess saying it’s a Vesper for a Mermaid Princess is more appropriate!“ — WH
The build:
Build in glass flask
3 drops of a 20/80 saline solution
1.5 Mermaid Zest gin
0.5 Haku gin
0.5 Dolin Chamberyzette
0.25 Alpe Achillea
0.25 Cocchi Americano
Steps: Stir over ice. Strain into a chilled coupe. Lightly express a lemon peel over top and discard.
Read our Guest Shift interview with Will Hoschek here.
