Rita Hayworth attempt #1

My experiment with the house-made pineapple-sage infused tequila resulted in a very intensely flavored spirit, and I was in a big hurry to try recreating Elettaria's Rita Hayworth cocktail.

Having never had the pleasure to try this, I had to take a wild guess at the proportions, and after a quick shake and a taste, the wife said it was perfect for her - but probably too sweet to serve to our friends. A quick adjustment in the ratio of flavored tequila and unflavored silver tequila resulted in a cocktail that was deliriously fruity, perfectly balanced, and mysteriously complex. While my infusion may need some more adjusting, I may have nailed a new cocktail for us, on the first try.
Cheers, across the state, to Joseph at Elatteria.


2 oz. Home-made Pineapple-Sage Infused Silver Tequila
1 oz. Silver Tequila
2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
.5 oz. honey
.5 oz simple syrup

Pre-chill a cocktail glass with ice and dump. Squeeze a portion of lime peel into the glass so that the lime oil tinctures the glass and rub the peel over the rim of the glass.
Shake ingredients in the shaker, with ice until very cold, and fine strain into the glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

Pineapple-Sage infused Tequila

I often read, and occasionally post, to a cocktail enthusiast and bartender's web forum called The Chanticleer Society. A new gent, named Joseph, from a bar and restaurant called Elettaria in NYC, introduced himself to the online community and, as usual, I was curious about the bar and googled their site.
While perusing their online cocktail menu, I was struck by a few imaginative cocktails, and one in particular caught my attention- The Rita Hayworth. Pineapple & Sage Infused Herradura
Silver Tequila, Lime, & Honey. Now, my wife and I enjoy margaritas probably more than the next couple- and with my wife's predilection for fruity spirits, and my interest in trying new spirit infusions - I knew this could only be a good idea. And... there was an over-ripe pineapple on the kitchen counter, and sage growing in our herb garden. Coincidence? I think not.
Brian, head bartender at Elettaria, (can one meet other people through the internet? It seems such a Douglas Coupland contrivance,) wrote to tell me that most everything from the cocktail menu was his creation, except for the Rita Hayworth, which came from Brian at Death & Company.
I decided against using the $30 bottle of 100% agave Herradura for my first test, opting instead for some very serviceable Sauza Silver tequila. If I was going to make a botched batch of infused tequila that would quickly become the latest version of Liquid Plumber, it would be best not to use the expensive booze.
I loaded a pint canning jar with cubed pineapple and four or five medium sized sage leaves, and filled it with the tequila. About 5 days in the fridge is all it took to infuse the spirit with plenty of pineapple-sage flavor and aroma. A quick run through a fine sieve before going through a paper coffee filter, and the golden-colored liquid was bottled. Your results may vary.
I tried a little, shaken quickly with ice and then served on the rocks, and it is delicious. I am sure this is going to be a staple in my bar.