Ingredients:
1 fl oz Vodka
1 fl oz peach schnapps
1 1/2 fl oz Orange Juice (freshly squeexed)
1 fl oz Single cream / half and half
Garnish:
Garnish with orange zest twist
Step-By-Step:
Shake all ingredients with ice in a mixer. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
Book Pairing: First Cosmic Velocity
(Reviewed on November 19th, 2021)
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to be launched into space on October 4th, 1957. It was the unofficial beginning of the US - USSR space race which was a part of the Cold War. The USSR continued to have "firsts" throughout the space race but could not reach that proverbial finish line with a moon landing. Accomplished by the Americans on July 20th, 1969. First Cosmic Velocity, by Zach Powers, tries to explain the Soviets success by way of a fun conspiracy theory. They were using twins to fake successful launches. One twin gets launched into space, the other stays on the ground and does the tours.
I chose this cocktail for a couple reasons. One, to honor the men and women of USSR who got us to reach for the stars. But also, to play a metaphor of Powers' novel. Much like this cocktail has a spirt of fruit its much more an after dinner bitter aperitif. Like out cosmonauts in First Cosmic Velocity want you to believe their successful reentry when really they're just flinging bodies into space.
I know this is our second vodka inspired cocktail and its back to back to boot but I promise we'll get back to gin soon.