Date-Infused Scotch Sensation

Benjamin Gerlach

The use of Medjool dates in a cocktail seems right on brand for Mediterranean concept Casa Don Alfonso. But the roots of the Datteri Aspri were more serendipitous than intentional, says Benjamin Gerlach, mixologist. Initially unsure how to use a gift of Medjool dates, he decided to infuse them in a bottle of Scotch he’d been holding onto for a couple of years. Two months later, a burst of late-night inspiration led him to create an early version of the cocktail for his fiancée. “I immediately knew it would make an appearance on our menu,” Gerlach recounts.

With just a handful of components—dates, Scotch, simple syrup, lemon and a salted date-sugar rim—the Datteri Aspri is a showcase of how simple ingredients can produce an unforgettable flavor experience, says Gerlach. “The coalescence of succulent Medjool dates and the fruity lightness of the Scotch lends itself perfectly to a sour cocktail build,” he says. “In development, it seemed a little too sweet and too bright, but that is where the thick rim of earthy date sugar and salt comes in. It’s savory to balance the sweetness, and it leveled the cocktail up from tasty to spectacular.”

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