The Gap Theory at The Up & Up (NYC)

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The Gap Theory at The Up & Up (NYC)

The Up & Up, in NYC’s West Village, is renowned among cocktail sophisticates for the elegantly balanced drinks it produces by using often-unexpected ingredients in unconventional combinations. So it was a good place for a customer to make what might elsewhere be considered an odd request: a drink that was creamy yet spicy. The resulting cocktail, The Gap Theory, is certainly unusual, yet utterly delicious. Added to a base of Plantation 3 Stars rum, heavy cream provides the desired texture, while a spicy honey syrup made with jalapeño peppers and a touch of watermelon adds the requisite spice (the syrup is also used in the bar’s drink Amongst the Grottoes). “What I do is use an immersion blender on the peppers, along with a little gin to help draw the flavor out,” says head bartender Chaim Dauermann. “Once that has the consistency of a paste, I add the watermelon and blend again, then add the honey.” Pear brandy, pistachio orgeat, and lime juice add simultaneously earthy and refreshing notes. (upandupnyc.com)