Denver Restaurant Olivéa’s Ophelia Cocktail – Gin, Rosemary Simple Syrup & Lemon Juice

Denver Restaurant Olivéa's Ophelia Cocktail - Gin with Rosemary Simple Syrup and Lemon
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Denver’s 5280 Magazine is a gorgeous periodical that delivers a wealth of information to readers about what’s going on the the Mile High City. Food, drink, events and personalities are highlighted each month and it’s one of those magazines I don’t have delivered but am helpless to resist when I see the latest version at either Sunflower Market or Whole Foods. Often highlighting a ‘Best of’ list for something in Denver; I’m a total sucker to see what is the best of the places I never seem to get to!

The most recent issue included a ‘Best’ list that was near and dear to my cocktail loving heart, ‘The 35 Best Bars in Denver.’ Included in that list are what the magazine has discovered, due I’m sure to diligent and difficult work, as the best from Denver’s dive bars to cocktail lounges. I was contacted by a magazine staffer to see if I would be interested in featuring one of the special cocktails that they discovered in this gargantuan effort. Of course I said yes but let’s be honest; they really should have contacted me BEFORE so that I could have helped them don’t you think? I knew you would agree!

My only caveat was that I preferred preparing a cocktail that would not require weeks of preparation (as in no home brewed bitters please). I wanted one relatively easy to prepare so that both myself and my readers could pull it together without having to search far and wide for ingredients. During my conversation with Natasha, the editor of the piece, it was suggested that I prepare the Ophelia cocktail from Olivéa’s, a restaurant and bar located in an area in Denver called Uptown; located east of Denver’s downtown area along 17th Avenue.

The area is home to several favorite Denver restaurants but Olivéa’s brought something new and needed to the area with Mediterranean cuisine and fabulous cocktails. Overseen by the husband-and-wife team of exec chef John Broening and pastry chef Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, Olivéa pays extraordinary attention to detail and this cocktail is no exception. It has certainly whet my appetite; next on the agenda is a field trip to nosh on some of the dishes friends have shared with me that I MUST try!

I have to tell you; this cocktail is a keeper. Combining the scent of Juniper berries in the gin with the herbaceous pine scent of rosemary in a simple syrup and then melding those aromatics with fresh lemon and club soda made for an excellent libation.

This is a sophisticated cocktail that I am so glad I was asked to create. As much as I’ve loved the plethora of pink cocktails recently, certainly due to my love of cranberries, cherries and blood oranges, I’m glad to have a less ‘girly’ cocktail in my repertoire…this is definitely a drink everyone will enjoy!

Check out bartender David Provencher making the Ophelia cocktail at Olivéa (I’ve reduced his portions to ‘home size’ which means enough for 4-5 cocktails):

Contact Olivéa:

Denver Restaurant Olivéa’s Ophelia Cocktail – Gin, Rosemary Simple Syrup & Lemon Juice

Prep Time: 50 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 2 cocktails

Denver Restaurant Olivéa’s Ophelia Cocktail – Gin, Rosemary Simple Syrup & Lemon Juice

Ingredients

    For the Rosemary Simple Syrup:
  • 1/4 cup ground rosemary (use an herb grinder, a coffee grinder or a small food processor)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • For the Cocktail:
  • 1 and 1/2 oz of Tangueray Gin
  • 3/4 oz rosemary syrup
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 of a lemon, squeezed)
  • Club Soda
  • Sprig of rosemary for garnish

Preparation

  1. Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar and rosemary and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and steep the mixture off heat for 45 minutes.
  2. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a container. (The accompanying video has a visual reference for the depth of color that should be achieved; a light golden syrup).
  3. Fill glass with ice.
  4. Add gin, lemon and rosemary simple syrup and stir.
  5. Top with club soda, stir briefly and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
http://www.creative-culinary.com/oliveas-opelia-cocktail-gin-with-lemon-and-rosemary-simple-syrup/

Photo of chefs John Broening and Yasmin Lozada-Hisson from Olivéa

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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Brian @ A Thought For Food April 11, 2012 at 8:57 pm

LOVE! I can’t think of a better use of fresh herbs (especially rosemary) than in a cocktail. YUM!
Brian @ A Thought For Food Most Recent Post: Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries with Sriracha Creme Fraiche

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2 Creative Culinary April 11, 2012 at 10:05 pm

This was just a great drink…will be perfect for summer too. Easy, touch of citrus and rosemary? Serious winner!

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3 Lindsay @ Rosemarried March 5, 2012 at 9:55 pm

This sounds like me in a glass. Seriously, it’s everything I love. I’ve made similar cocktails, but not quite this pretty. :) I’ll need to try this version. Love it.

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4 Creative Culinary March 6, 2012 at 7:43 pm

Thanks Lindsay…maybe with a pizza? :)

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5 Feast on the Cheap March 5, 2012 at 2:13 pm

So refreshing…counting down the months till I can have a proper cocktail again!
Feast on the Cheap Most Recent Post: Homemade Mixed Berry Jam

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6 Creative Culinary March 6, 2012 at 7:24 pm

It truly was…and would be worth the wait. I loved the juniper scent which makes it work for a cooler climate but I just know that doing it in summer with my homegrown rosemary will be equally fabulous.

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7 Sommer@ASpicyPerspective March 5, 2012 at 7:23 am

Holy Yum! I could have really used that last night!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective Most Recent Post: Irish Car Bomb Brownies

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8 Lora @cakeduchess March 5, 2012 at 7:04 am

I like the burly cocktails but I also like the flavor a refreshing drink like this one. The rosemary syrup alone sounds incredible…so many things you could make with it. This drink reminds me of summer:) cheers!

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9 Creative Culinary March 5, 2012 at 2:27 pm

The syrup was definitely one thing I loved and want to use for something else too…now to figure out what. Maybe a cake? Maybe even sorbet? Oh the tests that have to done for this work. :0

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10 Daisy@Nevertoosweet March 4, 2012 at 11:00 am

Looks like a very yummy cocktail ~ Thanks for sharing!
Daisy@Nevertoosweet Most Recent Post: Keeping Warm – Ah Kuan Hot Pot

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11 Brian March 2, 2012 at 7:49 pm

This looks like my kind of cocktail! Can’t wait to be in the Cape this summer and make this!

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12 Creative Culinary March 3, 2012 at 11:07 am

I am normally a wine drinker in the winter and do cocktails in the summer (well, mostly margaritas) but this effort each week has opened my eyes to some great new drinks. This is one of them. The juniper scent really does lend itself to a winter moment too…although this summer, it will be on my list too and have my very own rosemary in it!

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13 Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet March 2, 2012 at 12:07 pm

Looks great Barb. I’ll take one. :) Happy Friday!!!
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet Most Recent Post: Where Women Cook Magazine – You Know You Want One!

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14 Creative Culinary March 3, 2012 at 11:05 am

I had one for you. That’s what friends are for. :)

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15 Nancy@acommunaltable March 2, 2012 at 9:35 am

I don’t think I need to tell you that this has my name WRITTEN all over it! I am plucking some rosemary this afternoon to make the syrup (hopefully) in time so that I can relax with one of these tonight! Gorgeous photos Barb – your photography is improving so quickly!!!
Nancy@acommunaltable Most Recent Post: Salsa Chowder

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16 Creative Culinary March 2, 2012 at 10:11 am

Thanks my friend…especially since by the time I got to this last night I was dead beat tired and felt I rushed a bit. I wanted the cocktail more than the photo. :)

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17 Paula March 2, 2012 at 9:32 am

It looks deliciously refreshing! Thank you for including the video on the making of this cocktail. It was a pleasure to watch, though I was surprised to hear that the Rosemary syrup should sit for approx. 45 minutes before mixing the cocktail. Good point to know if planning to serve the Opelia at a gathering. I was wondering if you know, once the Rosemary syrup is mixed up, do you know the shelf life for it? Your photos of the cocktail are again, absolutely wonderful and I think it is so great for you that companies are continuing to approach you regarding cocktails.

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18 Creative Culinary March 2, 2012 at 10:10 am

I don’t have the answer to that Paula but I know I did cut the quantities cited in the video considerably to make a ‘home’ version. Just for you I went and measured what I had left and have found that this recipe makes enough for about 5 cocktails. Since I am already two down and have friends coming over tonight…I only wish I had more more!

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19 Tara March 2, 2012 at 9:28 am

As someone playing Ophelia this summer, I am most appreciative of the literary origin of the cocktail’s name. Fantastic! I will definitely be trying this!

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20 Lana @ Never Enough Thyme March 2, 2012 at 6:27 am

Yes! Now this cocktail is most definitely right up my alley. My libation of choice has always been Tangueray, most often paired with tonic. A classic, sure, but now this takes it to a different level altogether. And with the weather we’ve had lately – 75 degrees and humid yesterday – this lovely cocktail would be wonderful.
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme Most Recent Post: Salisbury Steaks and Mashed Potatoes

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21 Creative Culinary March 2, 2012 at 9:08 am

The video shows the bartender using and recommending Tangueray so that would be a perfect choice. I had Bombay Sapphire on hand and it’s what I used. That’s how I roll (specifically not buying a new bottle of something for one drink!).

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22 Butternbourbon March 2, 2012 at 6:03 am

We have a place here in Cincy that does a gin drink with grapefruit juice and rosemary. So refreshing in the summer! Thanks for the post!

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23 Creative Culinary March 2, 2012 at 9:06 am

I came VERY close to doing a grapefruit substitute but in the end decided to stay true to the original recipe…not always easy for me to do!

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24 Jamie March 2, 2012 at 4:34 am

Sounds like a very adult lemonaid, you ask me! It looks really good! I am fascinated that your cocktail expertise and talent for creating wonderful cocktails is spreading around Denver so fast! Yay you! Maybe you can open up a Cocktail Bar one day! :-)
Jamie Most Recent Post: MOM’S CHOCOLATE CHIP NUT BREAD MY WAY

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25 Creative Culinary March 2, 2012 at 9:05 am

The thing about this cocktail that struck me was how wonderful rosemary and lemon were in a cocktail when I would only previously have linked them together in a food dish. It is truly a keeper; just loved it.

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