Savour the essence of the forest with the mysterious elixir of the ancient protectors of the forests – the Ent Draught – a cedar gin cocktail that will refresh and nourish you!
Of all the Middle Earth elixirs, Ent draught is perhaps the most mysterious. The two hobbits Merry and Pippin are the only ones other than Ents known to have sampled this secretive brew. And it came with the not-so-undesirable side effect for a hobbit of adding a couple of inches to their height! With a faint tree-ish flavour and plenty of refreshing citrus, this bright and intriguing Ent draught will having you speaking in Old Entish and dreaming of the forest in no time!
Shepherds of the forest
According to J.R.R. Tolkien, the mysterious tree-like creatures called Ents are a very old race of beings created by Yavanna, one of the Ainur, to protect the forests. Over time they began to look more and more like the trees they protected. For refreshment and nourishment, Ents consume a mysterious but potent water called Ent-draught. These invigorating waters were said to contain the essence of the forest. Not ones for doing anything hasty, Ents are known to lay down after consuming their Ent draught to prevent it from going to their head. You may wish to keep this in mind after a glass or two of the Ent draught!
The noble cedar
Presiding over our backyard is a majestic cedar tree. It wasn’t until only recently that I discovered cedar trees are good for more than just a gorgeous view and plenty of shade. Cedar has long been used medicinally by the indigenous peoples of coastal BC. The Salish names for the western red cedar include “Mother” and “long life giver” and its leaves were widely used to make teas to treat rheumatism, fevers, colds, and tuberculosis. It is an anti-fungal, anti-viral, and boosts immune functions.
With such a variety of beneficial uses, it only seems right to include a syrup infusion of this noble tree in our Ent draught. You may even find yourself an inch or two taller after enjoying this cedar-infused Ent draught!
Ingredient Notes
Forest Dweller Gin: I use Forest Dweller Gin from Arbutus Distillery, which is a local brand based on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, BC. I received a bottle of gin at a dinner party recently as a gift. It was a somewhat self-serving gift since it came with instructions to create a drink using it for my guests. I was only too happy to oblige.
The Forest Dweller gin is distilled with a blend of grand fir, pine, and spruce tips. This makes it the perfect coniferous choice for a Lord of the Rings inspired Ent draught.
Finding this exact gin may be difficult if you don’t live in BC, Canada. Luckily, the cedar syrup adds enough coniferous flavour that you can substitute with another gin of your choosing. I recommend picking a gin with a herbaceous profile rather than an overly floral profile.
Cedar leaves: With its gentle, sweeping branches, our large cedar was the perfect choice for adding tree-ish notes into this cedar gin cocktail. I have used cedar wood planks extensively for grilling or smoking but I have never used the green leaves. Grilling with cedar planks imparts a fairly strong ‘tree’ flavour so I assumed the leaves would be no different.
Surprisingly, while there are tree-ish hints in the flavour, it isn’t at all overpowering. There are strong notes of citrus and faint notes of anise in the cedar-infused simple syrup. If you are able to source green cedar leaves then I highly recommend trying this uniquely flavoured syrup.
Be sure to source your cedar leaves from trees that have not been sprayed with any form of herbicide or pesticide and that aren’t along busy roads. (Or that you haven’t mistaken it for your friendly neighbourhood Ent!)
Dry vermouth: Vermouth is a fortified wine infused with various botanicals. This makes it a great addition to this Ent draught. It comes in dry and sweet varieties. For this cocktail choose a dry vermouth. Martini & Rossi or Cinzano are two popular brands that should be easy to source.
Lemon juice: As always, lemon juice adds a balancing acidity to this cocktail.
Grapefruit bitters: The citrus note in the fresh cedar leaves is enhanced by the grapefruit bitters.
How to make the Ent Draught
Prepare the cedar simple syrup
To prepare the cedar syrup, collect about 4 cedar leaf sprigs. Choose new growth, light green tips if possible. Add the water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. As soon as it comes to a boil, add the cedar leaves and turn off the heat. Don’t let it continue to boil or the water may reduce too much.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the cedar steep for 30 minutes. After steeping, remove the cedar leaves and add the sugar. Stir to dissolve, heating the syrup briefly if necessary. Strain the syrup and allow to cool completely before using.
Make the Ent Draught
In a cocktail shaker combine the Forest Dweller gin, dry vermouth, cedar simple syrup, lemon juice, and grapefruit bitters. Add ice, cover, and shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of cedar if desired and enjoy!
Spread the Enchantment
More Tolkien-Inspired Recipes
For a complete Hobbit menu featuring the 7 hobbit meals (plus dessert), check out my Lord of the Rings inspired recipes here!
Another Lord of the Rings inspired cocktail is included in my Hobbit’s menu: Miruvor – the elvish elixir.
