Aura in Me Cocktail

Aura in Me Cocktail in a glass

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The best way to describe the "aura in me" cocktail is sweetly spiced elegance. It is a beautiful genever cocktail that offers a unique drinking experience and it's a fantastic example of modern mixology using an Old World gin.

This recipe comes from Christos Bafas, a bartender specializing in fusion cocktails in Santorini, Greece. The drink is actually rather simple, but it is unique in the flavor combination because it employs a few ingredients that are not found in the average cocktail.

Its foundation is made of the always lovely Bols Genever, which is accented by fresh lemon juice, a little elderflower syrup, and pine honey. The egg adds that silky foam that makes so many classic and modern drinks spectacular, and then there is the spice. Muddling pink peppercorns and cardamom seeds gives the drink an unusual background flavor that is intriguing and sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Aura in Me Cocktail ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a cocktail shaker, place the pink peppercorns and cardamom seeds. Muddle well to break them up as much as possible.

    Muddle pink peppercorns and cardamom seeds in a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Add the genever and stir for about 30 seconds.

    Genever, pink peppercorns and cardamom seeds in a cocktail shaker with a spoon

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Pour the lemon juice, elderflower syrup, and pine honey into the shaker and give the drink a short stir.

    Lemon juice, elderflower syrup, and pine honey poured into the cocktail shaker with the Genever mixture

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Add the egg white and dry shake.

    Aura in Me Cocktail ingredients in a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Fill the shaker with ice and give it a hard shake for about 20 seconds.

    Aura in Me Cocktail ingredients in a cocktail shaker, ice in a glass and an empty glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Double strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Garnish with cardamom. Serve and enjoy.

    Aura in Me Cocktail in a glass, garnished with cardamom

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk for food-borne illness.

Tips

  • Pink peppercorns (technically unrelated to the black variety) are slightly sweet. They have a peppercorn snap that, while noticeable, is gentler than a black peppercorn and it works really well with the cardamom against the sweetened drink.
  • Elderflower syrup is easy to make at home if you have access to the flowers. You can also use St. Germain (or another brand of the floral liqueur) or an elderflower cordial as a substitute.
  • The other matter of note is the pure pine honey, which is also known as pine tree honey or honeydew honey. It is a special honey that has nice pine and nut notes and is made by honeybees collecting sap from pine trees. It's more prevalent in Europe than the U.S., so you may have to order it online.
  • If the honey proves difficult, experiment with other honey varieties. There are many fascinating flavors available that would work just as well in this cocktail.

How Strong Is an Aura in Me Cocktail?

Since genever is the only alcohol in this cocktail, it's lighter than most gin drinks served in the martini style. On average, its alcohol content is just 17 percent ABV (34 proof), or slightly stronger than a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
283 Calories
5g Fat
22g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 283
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 186mg 62%
Sodium 73mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 6mg 32%
Calcium 48mg 4%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 146mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)