Thai Green
Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 19.4% ABV ∙
The Thai Green is a muddled vodka sour flavored with lemongrass, coriander seed, and cilantro, finished with lime and coconut syrup and served over ice. Fragrant and herbaceous on the nose, with a silky, lightly sweet body that turns bright and tart before fading into a clean, crisp finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Muddle the first 3 ingredients: Lemongrass stem 3 cmCoriander seeds 7 pcsCoriander/Cilantro leaves 3 sprigs in the base of the shaker
- Add the remaining ingredients: Vodka 60 mlLime juice 15 mlCoconut syrup 15 ml
- Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a cilantro sprig
Tips
- Muddle the lemongrass, coriander seeds, and cilantro firmly enough to release their oils, but stop before the herbs shred and turn bitter.
- Bruise a fresh lemongrass stem by smashing it lightly first — a dry or old stem gives little aroma no matter how hard you muddle.
- Fine-strain into the ice-filled glass to keep muddled herb and seed fragments out of the final pour.
History
The Thai Green cocktail was created in September 2014 at the Cabinet Room, a bar in London, England, where it was devised as a pairing for a dish of spiced beef and chili blinis. Its green color and aroma come from muddling lemongrass, coriander seeds, and coriander leaves before shaking them with vodka, lime juice, and coconut syrup, a combination meant to evoke the flavors of a Thai green curry without its chili heat.
FAQ
What is a famous Thai cocktail?
The Thai Green is a vodka cocktail whose herbal, citrusy profile is inspired by Thai green curry aromatics like lemongrass and cilantro, muddled in before shaking.
What is the name of a green cocktail?
The Thai Green is one well-known green cocktail, colored and flavored by muddled cilantro and lemongrass rather than any artificial coloring. Its pale green hue comes straight from the fresh herbs muddled into the base.
What alcohol goes with Thai green curry?
Vodka is a natural match, since it carries herbal and citrus flavors cleanly without competing with a curry's spice. The Thai Green cocktail uses vodka for exactly this reason, built with the same lemongrass, coriander, and cilantro found in a Thai green curry.
