Thirsty Thursday: Kirsten’s Fig Thyme Cocktail

Kirsten joined us on our retreat earlier this month and very generously contributed to all our meals. She’s not only beautiful and fun, but over the top gourmet so we were thrilled to have her! Watch for her Thanksgiving side dish and dessert recipes coming soon!

Kirsten writes:

Thanks to the Beauties for inviting me to post this week! I'm excited to share one of my new favorite recipes for Thirsty Thursday. In the past I've been a bit of a plain Jane when it comes to drinks (prosecco or a vodka soda were just fine), but during the past year I've tried making cocktails that are more involved than a splash of liquor and a mixer.*

Over the summer I was searching for a drink to serve at a friend's bridal shower and turned to a book called The Art of the Bar for ideas. I settled on this cocktail since I love recipes that call for seasonal fruit and the combination of fig and thyme sounded awesome. I admit the infused simple syrup and muddling the figs takes a little more effort, but it does make a difference in taste and adding lime juice ensures it’s not too sweet. Since then I’ve made this for several other events, including a recent night with the BATF group.

Although fig may seem uncommon as a fall flavor, for that reason I think it’s a fresh and interesting drink to try out for any parties this month—not to mention it looks really pretty in a martini glass! I believe figs are only in season for a few more weeks (at least in the Northwest), so you’ll want to snag some at your grocery store soon. To add even more depth of fig flavor to the recipe, try the suggestion from the mixologists/authors of The Art of the Bar and grill them first.

*Note: When I say I make drinks, to be fair I really mean I buy the ingredients and watch my husband do most of the work, since making drinks has become his new hobby. So nice to have an in-house bartender!


Fig Thyme Cocktail
(Makes one drink)

1 fig, quartered (plus an extra quarter for garnish)
½ oz thyme syrup (recipe below)
½ oz fresh lime juice
1 ½ oz Pisco
½ oz Cointreau
Sprig of thyme for garnish

Thyme simple syrup
5-6 sprigs of thyme
1cup sugar
1½ cup water

To make the syrup, add the thyme to the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool, strain through a sieve and transfer to a bottle. Any left over syrup can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.

To make the cocktail, muddle the fig with ½ oz of thyme syrup in a cocktail shaker. Top with ice and add the lime juice, Pisco and Cointreau. Shake until cold, and then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the remaining quarter of fig and a sprig of thyme.