The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Alternative Snacks Cocktail Has an Unusual Ingredient We Love (Recipe & Video)

By Cator Sparks September 11, 2017

A recent addition to the Charleston, South Carolina, food and beverage scene, Ink N Ivy is situated in an impressive historical building on upper King Street and filled with an eclectic array of contemporary art.

It is the third Ink N Ivy location (other outposts can be found in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina) from The Bottle Cap Group, a Charlotte-based hospitality company with 13 concepts under its umbrella. The Charleston hot spot opened in August with delectable American cuisine, craft beer, an extensive wine list sure to please any palette, and a superb selection of cool cocktails customized by expert bartenders.

One of the most popular drinks on the menu is the Alternative Snacks cocktail, a rum-based concoction with a surprising addition: salted dill oil. The savory ingredient pairs well with sweet and citrusy elements — because who doesn’t love a salty/sweet mixture? M&M’s and popcorn, anyone?

alternative snacks cocktail at Ink n Ivy — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Below you will find the recipe for Alternative Snacks. If you’re a fan of rum, you may also enjoy The Zombie.

Alternative Snacks
(Created by Evan Christy, Ink N Ivy, Charleston, South Carolina)

2 oz Rhum Clément
1 oz cucumber juice
0.75 oz lime juice
0.75 oz simple syrup
10 drops salted dill oil

Method: Combine rum, simple syrup, and cucumber and lime juices. Shake. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with salted dill oil.

Topics

Recipes

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…

Food & Drink

Forget Hershey’s: Our chocolate sauce recipe is better, and takes 5 minutes to make

Seriously, stop buying chocolate sauce

melted dark chocolate flow, candy or chocolate preparation background

If you don't have kids in your house, it may have been a while since you last enjoyed a generous drizzling of sweet, indulgent chocolate sauce. Or maybe not. In addition to the childhood favorites, chocolate sauce (or, syrup) can also be the star of many adult-themed beverages and...activities. But however you enjoy this decadent sauce, we'll bet you didn't realize how easy it is to make for yourself. No sticky brown jug from Hershey's is required.

Chocolate sauce is the ketchup of the dessert world. Kids love it, adults love it (whether they admit it or not), and it makes anything better with just a little squeeze. Use it to amp up ice cream, magically create chocolate milk, turn it into a dip for your favorite fruits, or garnish cakes and brownies. We love to stir it into our iced coffees and chocolate-themed cocktails.

Food & Drink

Whiskey upgrade: How to fat wash your favorite whiskey or bourbon to add new depths of flavor

Add flavor to whiskey or bourbon with fat-washing

Whiskey glass

If you pay attention to the cocktail or whiskey world, you’ve probably heard the term “fat-washed” at some point. You also might not have any idea what that means. You might assume you should, so you don’t want to ask anyone and seem foolish, right? It sounds like you’re washing whiskey with some kind of fat, whatever that means. If you think that, you’re on the right track. It is a technique to change the flavor of whiskey (and other spirits), but it has nothing to do with your kitchen sink, washing machine, dishwasher, or anything like that.

In the simplest terms, fat washing is a cocktail technique in which some form of fat (like bacon fat, butter, or some other fat) is added to room-temperature whiskey (like in a dish or sealable container, not a bottle). It sits on the counter for a few hours so the fat can separate from the spirit before being put into a refrigerator or freezer until the fat forms a solid crust on top. Scrap it off or strain it through cheesecloth and you have a buttery, fatty, flavorful whiskey to pour back into a bottle to use in your favorite cocktails. Sounds simple enough. To do it right requires a little bit more effort than that. There are steps that need to be taken.

Food & Drink

Feeling rushed in the mornings? This is the best way to get great coffee

Custom coffee at-home without any special equipment? Yes, please.

Cup of coffee with beans on table

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and while we tend to agree, the spread is nothing without some quality caffeine. Yet, we don't always have the energy or time to produce a solid cup. So, for those who live frantic a.m. lifestyles that barely make room for a sip of java -- let alone a bite of toast -- we have a solution, and its name is Frazy.

So, instead of dropping by Starbucks or dusting off that espresso machine (assuming you have one to begin with), try this convenient service instead. Created by baristas, the vials of coffee are customizable and require only water to create. One can decide on the strength of flavor and level of sweetness, along with dairy choice, and the resulting drink can take the form of either cold or hot coffee, along with a straight-up espresso shot.