This raspberry rose cocktail is a blushing, fragrant tribute to love at its most intoxicating — inspired by the fevered passion of Cathy and Heathcliff!
Wuthering Heights: A Gothic Romantic Feast
Across the boundless moors, beneath shifting skies, stands Wuthering Heights, the unwelcoming and treacherous setting of our gothic literary feast. While Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff and their tormented heirs have long since passed, their spirits remain bound to this weathered and wild setting. Emily Brontë’s timeless and only novel is a complex tale that begins with foreboding scratches at the window by a restless ghost, weaves through the troubled and violent relationships of the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights, reaches a frenzied peak with Cathy and Heathcliff’s final moment of passion, and painfully illustrates the lasting effects of Heathcliff’s own abuse and the resulting campaign of vengeance he carries out on everyone around him.
Each recipe leads us through this gripping story, reflecting the rugged environment, the social status of its inhabitants and pivotal moments that drive the plot. We invite you to devour these recipes either one at a time, at a wintery or Valentine’s (Galentine’s) Day dinner party, or at your next book club!
Cathy and Heathcliff, love and obsession…
It is only at the mid-point of Emily Brontë’s novel when Cathy and Heathcliff’s fate is tragically decided. During their final meeting at Thrushcross Grange, before Cathy dies following child birth, the two doomed lovers have a passionate exchange. Their reunion is fraught with wounded pride, obsession and yearning. Frail and fading, Cathy clings to Heathcliff with a fierce love: “I wish I could hold you…till we were both dead!” she cries. Heathcliff, equally distraught, proclaims: “You know that I could as soon forget you, as my existence!” Their bond surpasses the living world and permeates everything and everyone around them.
This blushing rose cocktail emulates the fevered passion of Cathy and Heathcliff’s final moments together. Fragrant rose – lush and romantic – symbolizes the all-consuming love that binds them, while fresh raspberries lend a tart yet sweet brightness reminiscent of the moors where their connection first took root. Gin and Lillet blanc add botanical and refined notes, and a dash of lavender bitters draws out the floral aroma in this elegant cocktail.
More Wuthering Heights Recipes
- Beef and Ale Stew with Suet Dumplings
- Yorkshire Oatcakes
- Raspberry Almond Cake
- Split Pea Soup with Smoked Pork Hock
- Cider Braised Chicken with Bacon and Leeks
Ingredients
Raspberries: You can use fresh or frozen raspberries for the syrup. I prefer using frozen, which tend to release more juice than fresh.
Rosewater: A splash of fragrant rosewater is enough to add a floral fragrance and flavour to the raspberry syrup. You should be able to find rosewater in a Middle Eastern or Indian market.
Gin: The botanicals in gin make it a great choice for this cocktail. Look for a floral gin, if possible, to help pick out the floral notes in the cocktail.
Lillet Blanc: Lillet Blanc is an aperitif wine produced in France. It is made from a blend of white wine and aromatics with a slight citrus flavour.
Lemon: A splash of lemon juice adds a balancing acidity to the cocktail.
Lavender bitters: Infused with delicate lavender aroma, a few dashes of bitters will add complexity and depth to this cocktail.
How to Make the Raspberry Rose Cocktail
Make the syrup
In a saucepan, combine the raspberries and water. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat. Turn down the heat to low and let simmer for about 5 minutes to reduce the liquid. Strain the juice, pressing gently on the berries to extract all the juice. Measure the juice.
Return the juice to a clean saucepan and place over medium heat. Add an equal amount of sugar, stirring to dissolve. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the rose water. The syrup will keep for about 3 weeks in the fridge.
Serve the Raspberry Rose
To make the cocktail, combine the gin, Lillet blanc, raspberry rose syrup, lemon juice, and lavender bitters in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, cover, and shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with dried rose buds. Enjoy!
