Shaken Saffron-Apricot Aperitif

Saffron Meridian

37 minutes total · Easy · Makes 2

Apricot, saffron and alcohol-free orange blossom water shake into a luminous still aperitif with a tart finish and a warm floral lift.

12 minutes to mix25 minutes to chill2 finished drinks

What you’ll need

Place two Nick & Nora glasses in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
Pour the just-boiled water over the saffron in a heatproof cup. Cover and steep for 10 minutes, until the water turns deep gold.
Whisk the maple syrup into the warm saffron infusion until fully combined. Refrigerate the infusion for 10 minutes, or set the cup in an ice bath and stir until completely cold.
Add the cold saffron-maple infusion, apricot nectar, lemon juice, cold water, alcohol-free orange blossom water and salt to a cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with the ice cubes. Seal and shake firmly for 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
Fine-strain immediately into the chilled glasses, dividing the drink evenly so no ice shards or saffron fragments enter the glasses.

The glass, temperature and first aroma all shape the drink. Set those details before the final pour.

Use chilled Nick & Nora glasses or small coupes; the curved bowl concentrates the apricot and orange-blossom aroma.
Serve up with no ice so the texture stays silky rather than diluted.
Cut a small slit in each dried apricot half and clip one to the rim of each glass; float two saffron threads on each drink.
Serve refrigerator-cold, ideally within two minutes of straining while the drink is at its brightest and most aromatic.

At the table

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Estimated per drink

Apricot nectar contributes a modest amount of potassium and beta-carotene along with the drink's natural fruit sugars.

Estimates vary with ingredient brands, substitutions and serving size.