Tomato Essence Sour
Clear Tomato Gin Sour
A crystal-clear, fruity and tart cocktail with an intense tomato flavor, fresh basil and a silky foam topping. Gin adds floral spice, while lemon and a mild syrup provide an elegant balance.
Nutrition · per serving
Ingredients
11 itemsTomato Essence and Syrup
Sour
Garnish
Tips
- •For the clearest essence, do not press the tomatoes. Very ripe, aromatic tomatoes will provide much more flavor.
- •Use aquafaba from unsalted chickpeas. If you prefer a less frothy drink, reduce the amount to 30 ml.
- •The syrup will keep well in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about one week.
Steps
- 1
Quarter the tomatoes roughly and place them with the basil in a sieve set over a bowl. Gently crush them with a potato masher or the back of a spoon—do not purée them, so the essence remains clear.
500 g ripe tomatoes6 leaves basil - 2
Leave the tomato mixture to drain for at least 10 minutes. For an especially clear essence, do not press it; simply let it drain gently.
500 g ripe tomatoes6 leaves basil - 3
Heat the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar has completely dissolved. Leave to cool for 5 minutes, then measure out 40 ml for the cocktail.
100 g sugar100 ml water - 4
Add 75 ml each of tomato essence, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and aquafaba to a shaker. Shake vigorously without ice for 15 seconds to create a stable foam.
100 ml gin50 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice40 ml simple syrup40 ml aquafaba - 5
Add the ice cubes and shake very vigorously for another 10 to 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is thoroughly chilled.
ice cubes ice cubes - 6
Double-strain the drink through a fine-mesh strainer into two chilled coupette or Nick & Nora glasses. Garnish with basil and one basil tip each, then serve immediately.
4 small basil leaves basil, for garnish
Origin & History
Tomato essence cocktails belong to modern bar cuisine, where vegetables are transformed into refined, aromatic drinks through clarification and filtration. This sour combines the technique with the classic balance of spirit, acidity and sweetness, along with a foamed element.
Pregnancy
Not recommendedDo not prepare as written, as the cocktail contains alcohol. Replace the gin completely with a non-alcoholic alternative.
Breastfeeding
CautionContains gin. For an alcohol-free version, replace the gin with a non-alcoholic spirit or additional tomato essence.
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