'Tis the season to read steamy romance novels and clink a glass (or two) with a valentine! This month Le Salon is diving into a close reading of D. H. Lawrence's 1928 novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. A novel that shocked readers for its cross-social class intimacy and frank vocabulary.
While researching cocktails to pair with Lady Chatterley's Lover, it became apparent that there are a number of explicitly-named cocktails. And, while Lawrence's novel is one of the first-of-its-kind with descriptions of the sexual encounters between Connie and Oliver, none of these raunchy cocktails seemed to embody the tenderness of the relationship depicted in the narrative.
Instead, here is a recipe for a just-more-than-chaste French Kiss Cocktail. If you are a fan of an Aperol spritz, you will certainly enjoy this one:
1 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. St. Germain
1/4 oz. Aperol
1/4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
Sparkling Wine (preferably rosé)
Add gin, St. Germain, Aperol, and lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously and strain into a coupe glass.
Top up with sparkling wine.
With the mix of various liqueurs, this cocktail is sure to create a warming effect akin to that of new love!
Cheers!