All Dressed Up
The first cocktail I ever had was a “gin pomp” (at least that’s the name I remember) at a disco in Quimper, France. I had no business being there because I was nowhere near the legal drinking age. So, what was my teenager self doing at a disco in northwestern France? I was on a school break with my friend Blandine, a French exchange student I met at the all-girls’ Catholic high school we both attended in Exeter, England, where my dad was on sabbatical at the University. Blandine and her friends were a few years older than me, possibly of age, and far more interested in meeting boys than babysitting a painfully shy American who spoke virtually no French. I am beyond thankful that the only disaster to come out of that night was my first hangover.
Makes 1 drink
- 1 ½ ounces gin
- 1 ounce pamplemousse liqueur
- ½ ounce fresh orange juice
- ¼ ounce homemade grenadine (see below)
- Prosecco float (about 1 ounce)
Add the gin, pamplemousse liqueur, orange juice, and grenadine to a shaker. Add ice and shake to chill. Strain into a chilled coup. Top with the prosecco.
Grenadine: Combine equal parts pomegranate juice, sugar, and few crushed allspice berries in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, gently swirling the pan. Let cool completely. Strain into a small bottle. Keep refrigerated.
