Cedar Sour

We promise you this cocktail is unlike anything you’ve ever had before. Made with cedar infused rye, thyme syrup, egg whites and lemon juice, this tastes like having a sauna. Cedar has a very distinct flavour, and this rye has just the right amount of it.

We wish we could take credit for this cocktail but we can’t. It’s the creation of Hailey Pasemko, from Wolf in the Fog in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. I had it on vacation last summer and literally daydreamed about it for almost a full year before we made it. I held back for so long because I thought it would be way more complicated than it was, but it was actually pretty simple. And oh so worth the effort.

This cocktail leaves a delicious aftertaste along with a dry finish. There’s also something very manly about it. So if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for any man in your life, this rye is a great option.

For the cedar infused rye:

• 1 750ml bottle of rye. You’ll want to use a rye that doesn’t have a strong, distinct flavour. Hailey recommends Wiser’s Deluxe and we can confirm it works beautifully.
• 6, 8 inch cedar shims (you can get these at the hardware store – here’s what they look like)
• 2 tbs of salt
• 3-4 cups of warm water
• 1 coffee filter
• Jar or glass container with a lid

For the thyme simple syrup:

• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 8-10 sprigs of thyme

For the cocktail:

• 1 ½ oz cedar infused rye
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz thyme simple syrup
• 1 egg white (or 1 oz of egg whites if you’re using a carton of egg whites!)
• 2 cherries (not optional, it truly makes the cocktail. And don’t you dare use the maraschino variety. Splurge on the good shit. Like these ones).

The cedar infused rye:

1. You’ll want to start by scrubbing the cedar shims to remove any dirt or sawdust.
2. Next, soak the shims in warm salt water for 20 minutes.
3. Then soak the shims in fresh water for another 20 minutes to remove any saltiness from the wood.
4. Depending on the size of your jar/glass container, you may need to cut the shims to fit inside. If so, now’s the time, as the wood will be soft from soaking.
5. Add the shims to the glass container with the bottle of rye. Close the container and store it in a cool, dark place for 6-7 days.
6. After the 6-7 days are up, run the rye through the coffee filter to remove any remaining wood particles.

The thyme syrup:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a pot and heat on high. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low immediately. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
2. While the syrup is still hot, add the thyme and stir a little.
3. Allow the syrup to cool at room temperature. Remove the thyme.
4. Keep the simple syrup in the fridge. We recommend storing in a jar.

The cocktail:

1. Add the egg white to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. This is called a “dry shake” and it helps the egg white to get nice and frothy.
2. In a cocktail shaker combine the egg white, cedar rye, lemon juice and lemon thyme syrup.
3. Add the ice, cedar-infused rye, lemon juice and thyme syrup to the cocktail shaker and shake again.
4. Strain the cocktail into a rock glass. You could add ice to the cocktail if you’d like, but we prefer it without.
5. Garnish with cherries.