Gunpowder Plot

Name: Gunpowder Plot
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: 2 oz / 60 ml Gunpowder Tea-Infused Gin; 0.75 oz / 22.5 ml Fresh Lemon Juice; 0.5 oz / 15 ml Demerara Syrup; 0.25 oz / 7.5 ml Fernet-Branca

Ingredients Instructions

The Gunpowder Plot is a modern classic that masterfully balances smoky, bitter, sweet, and sour notes. It uses a unique gin infused with gunpowder green tea, which lends an earthy, smoky character. This is complemented by the bracing herbaceous bitterness of Fernet-Branca, with Demerara syrup providing a rich sweetness and lemon juice adding the necessary bright acidity. The result is a complex, intriguing, and deeply flavorful cocktail for the adventurous palate.

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time

Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Gunpowder Plot is classified as a modern classic cocktail. It falls into the 'sour' family of drinks due to its use of citrus juice, but its complex flavor profile also positions it as a sophisticated sipper.

Serving

This is a spirit-forward drink served cold and 'up' (without ice) in a chilled coupe glass. Its alcohol content is moderately high, typical of a classic sour-style cocktail.

Serving size

Approximately 4.5 oz / 135 ml

Alcohol content

Approximately 25-28% ABV

Alcohol strength

Serving temperature

Cold

Glass type

Coupe

Glass treatment

Chilled

Backstory

Created by Kirk Estopinal around 2009 at the renowned New Orleans bar Cure, the Gunpowder Plot is named for its key ingredient, gunpowder green tea. The name is a clever nod to the historical 1605 plot to blow up the English Parliament. It plays on both the "gunpowder" tea and the explosive complexity of flavors in the drink, which quickly cemented its status as a modern classic.

Origin

This cocktail originated in New Orleans, USA, around 2009. It was created by bartender Kirk Estopinal at the bar Cure.

Gunpowder Plot

The drink is consistently known by its original name, Gunpowder Plot, with no common alternative names.

Original name

Gunpowder Plot

Characteristics overview

The Gunpowder Plot presents a complex aroma of lemon and herbs, with a smoky undertone. The flavor is a bold interplay of sour citrus and intense herbal bitterness, with a smooth, crisp texture and a long, lingering finish.

Flavor

Smoky, Herbaceous, Citrusy, Bitter, Complex

Aroma

Lemon oils, Minty, Earthy, Smoky tea

Taste balance

Sour, Bitter, Sweet

Aftertaste

Long, Lingering bitterness, Herbal, Clean

Fizziness

Still

Color appearance

Pale yellow-green, Hazy, Golden-brown hue

Texture

Smooth, Crisp, Medium-bodied

Seasonality

Refreshing, All-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intense, led by a strong sour and bitter profile from the lemon and Fernet-Branca. The alcohol strength is pronounced but well-integrated, with minimal sweetness and no carbonation.

Sweetness

Saltiness

Sourness

Bitterness

Spiciness

Fruitiness

Creaminess

Carbonation

Ingredients

The core of this drink is a unique gunpowder tea-infused gin, balanced with fresh lemon juice, rich Demerara syrup, and the distinctive bitter amaro, Fernet-Branca.

Gunpowder Tea-Infused Gin2 oz / 60 ml
To make, infuse 1 tbsp of gunpowder green tea per 750ml of a London Dry Gin for 2-4 hours, then strain well.
Fresh Lemon Juice0.75 oz / 22.5 ml
Freshly squeezed juice is crucial for the best flavor.
Demerara Syrup0.5 oz / 15 ml
Made with a 2:1 ratio of Demerara sugar to water for a rich texture and flavor.
Fernet-Branca0.25 oz / 7.5 ml
This intensely bitter and minty amaro is a key flavor component and should not be substituted.

Ice type

Cubed ice for shaking

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaker set, including a jigger for measuring and two types of strainers to ensure a smooth, ice-free texture in the final drink.

Cocktail shaker for chilling and combining ingredients
Jigger or measuring tool for accurate proportions
Fine-mesh strainer and Hawthorne strainer for double-straining

Instructions

The process involves shaking the infused gin, lemon juice, syrup, and amaro with ice, then double-straining into a chilled coupe glass. The final touch is garnishing with an expressed lemon twist.

1. If you haven't already, prepare the Gunpowder Tea-Infused Gin by adding 1 tablespoon of gunpowder green tea to a 750ml bottle of dry gin. Let it infuse for 2-4 hours, then strain thoroughly through a coffee filter or fine-mesh sieve.

2. Chill your serving glass, preferably a coupe glass, by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.

3. Add the gunpowder tea-infused gin, fresh lemon juice, Demerara syrup, and Fernet-Branca to a cocktail shaker.

4. Fill the shaker with cubed ice and seal it tightly.

5. Shake vigorously for 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled and frosted.

6. Discard the ice from your chilled glass. Double-strain the cocktail from the shaker into the glass.

7. Take a fresh lemon peel, express its oils over the surface of the drink by squeezing it, and then place the twist in the glass as a garnish.

Garnishing

A simple lemon twist garnish is all that's needed; expressing its oils over the drink adds a crucial aromatic dimension that brightens the cocktail.

Lemon Twist: Express the oils over the surface of the drink before dropping it in.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan, and is generally considered gluten-free as it uses distilled spirits. It contains trace amounts of caffeine from the tea infusion.

✓ Contains alcohol

✕ Caffeine-free

✓ Dairy-free

✓ Egg-free

✓ Soy-free

✓ Nut-free

✓ Gluten-free

✓ Vegan-friendly

✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail has a moderate calorie count, primarily from the alcohol and sugar in the Demerara syrup. The carbohydrate and sugar content is relatively low compared to fruit-heavy drinks.

Calories

Averagely 200-230 kcal / 837-962 kJ

Calories level

Carbohydrates

Averagely 12-15 g

Carbohydrate level

Sugar

Averagely 10-12 g

Sugar level

Occasions

With its complex and bold flavors, the Gunpowder Plot is best suited for sophisticated occasions, as a contemplative after-dinner drink, or for a cocktail hour for seasoned drinkers.

Cocktail Hour
After-Dinner Drink
Sophisticated Gatherings

Pairing suggestions

The cocktail's bold, bitter, and smoky notes pair well with rich and savory foods. Try it with smoked charcuterie, sharp aged cheeses, or hearty appetizers that can stand up to its intense flavor profile.

Smoked meats or fish
Rich, savory appetizers
Sharp cheeses

Gunpowder Plot: An Explosive Flavor Combination

The Gunpowder Plot is an inventive modern cocktail that offers a truly unique taste experience. By infusing gin with gunpowder tea, it introduces a smoky, earthy element that is brilliantly contrasted by the bright acidity of lemon and the aggressive, minty bitterness of Fernet-Branca. It's a challenging yet rewarding drink, perfect for those who appreciate complex flavors and have moved beyond basic sours. A testament to modern mixology, it's a balanced, aromatic, and memorable sipper.

Similar Cocktails

Final Ward

A Last Word variation that uses rye whiskey and lemon juice, but shares a similar template of base spirit, herbal liqueur (Chartreuse), modifier (Maraschino), and citrus.