The Long Hello
We are coming up on Christmas and I was looking for a fun, festive cocktail for a little zoom gathering I have planned with some girlfriends. I found one called The Long Hello, which was created by Damon Boelte of Brooklyn. Made with Calvados, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, aromatic bitters, Champagne and freshly grated nutmeg, this spoke to me. The flavors work so nicely together and served in a coupe glass, this drink is pure elegance. Also, let’s talk about the name.
My husband, Adam, works in healthcare and this pandemic has been incredibly stressful. Not so much because I’ve been worried about him getting sick, although that’s always a small concern. The stress has come more from a place of responsibility and wanting to set a good example with our behavior when we don’t know what Adam’s exposure risk is at work. We’ve been locked down more than we might have been otherwise. Our kids have had to sacrifice more than some of their peers. This whole experience has required a strong amount of self-control. Many others in the community have sacrificed far more than us. We have friends who own restaurants or other small businesses that haven’t been able to operate. For those of us on the sidelines, wanting to help, the call to action is to simply not be out and about so we can slow this damn virus. Perfecting the art of doing nothing has been our call to duty. Anyhow, today Adam got his first dose of the vaccine which brings tears to my eyes even as I type this. It finally feels like we might get past this pandemic sooner than later. While it’s going to take some time before enough people are fully vaccinated, rather than thinking of the months ahead as the so-called “dark winter”, I’d like to consider it a “long hello.” We can zoom a while longer as we slowly get our lives back. The next few months won’t be easy but it is helpful knowing that we are making progress. In the meantime, please join me in staying safe and raise a glass as we head into our Long Hello! Cheers!
The Long Hello
Ingredients:
3/4 oz Calvados or apple brandy
3/4 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1 dash aromatic bitters
Chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg
Method:
In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine Calvados, St. Germain, and bitters. Stir until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass and top with Champagne. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg.
