Celebrate the ones you adore with a taste of Terranea this February. Terranea Resort Food and Beverage Manager Makala Meyer shares a lovely gin cocktail addition to your Valentine’s weekend – brimming with bright flavors of strawberry tulsi, cranberry, pink grapefruit, lime and Prosecco.
Tell us about yourself!
I have had the pleasure of working at Terranea for five and a half years. I started as a bartender at bashi and catalina kitchen, and am now a Food and Beverage Manager of the Lobby Bar and Terrace and sea beans – two places where I get to help create delicious concoctions for all tastes.
What inspired the name ‘A Love Eternal’?
This cocktail’s name was inspired by the symbol of Holy Basil (Tulsi) being that of love and eternity.
What was your inspiration for the cocktail?
I was inspired by one of my favorite drinks – the French 75. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to indulge on this classic bubbly cocktail with a sweet and fruity twist.
The red, juicy strawberry is the perfect fruit covered in chocolate, or muddled in a cocktail, but did you know that the strawberry was also a symbol for the Roman Goddess Venus – the goddess of love? Legend has it, if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with a desired partner, you will fall in love with each other.
The cocktail also contains a Strawberry Tulsi Tea infused simple syrup, using a blend such as this by Rishi Tea. Tulsi, or Holy Basil, is a Hindu symbol of love, fidelity, and eternal life. It is an adaptogenic herb used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve stress and boost energy.
Why do these ingredients work well together?
Gin tends to have more floral and herbal notes and adds a wonderful dimension to the otherwise sweet and fruity cocktail.
Would any other liquors work in place of gin?
You can use any light-colored liquor of your choice, depending on your preferred taste. If you use vodka, the flavor of the liquor will be hidden and the fruit and juices will be more prevalent. If you use rum, it could add a nice, warm, molasses profile.
“A Love Eternal” cocktail kits are available as an add-on to your Terranea Valentine’s Day Meals To-Go upon pick-up, or create your own signature cocktail at home with the recipe below. Cheers!
A Love Eternal Cocktail Recipe
- 1.5oz Gin
- .75 oz Strawberry Tulsi Syrup
- .5 oz Cranberry juice
- .75 oz Pink grapefruit juice
- .25 oz Lime juice
- 3 oz Sparkling Wine
- To garnish: 2 slices of strawberry on a skewer, micro basil sprig
To assemble, muddle 1 large strawberry (or 2 small) in shaker. Add ingredients and ice. Shake and strain into martini glass. Top with sparkling wine and garnish.
For more information about Terranea Resort’s Valentine’s Day contactless offerings, please visit www.terranea.com/heart.
