As if my friend Bruce hadn’t educated me enough on the scintillating properties of gin, I have found two more uses for it.
First, believe it or not, gin is an excellent ingredient in homemade perfume. (See info under recipe).
Secondly, Gin Mayonnaise. I happened upon this by mistake when I was surfing one of DiBruno Brothers’ (dibruno.com) sales. They have some of the most wonderful things, including my favorite oils & vinegars. But now I’ve discovered Gin Mayonnaise. Do it.
INGREDIENTS
2 fresh salmon fillets
Good olive oil
Dried Black Garlic (Black Crack) *
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
For the sauce:
1/4 cup gin mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sour cream
1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
few fresh basil leaves
1-2 sprigs dill, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped scallions, (white and green parts)
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons capers, drained
1 1/2 teaspoons pickle relish
To assemble:
2 fresh brioche rolls (I like Trader Joe’s)
1 tablespoon butter
fresh lettuce or fresh basil leaves
Heat a frying pan on medium high. Heat the butter in the pan and toast the insides of the roll. Remove to a plate.
Coat the salmon with olive oil, salt, pepper, and Black Crack. Heat for 5 minutes on each side, or until the salmon is almost cooked through. Remove the skin. Set the salmon aside. For the sauce, place the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
To assemble the sandwiches, spread a tablespoon of sauce on the bottom 1/2, place some lettuce and dill, then a piece of salmon. Place some more sauce on top then add the top of the roll and serve immediately.
Now for the perfume. Gin is actually an excellent alcohol for many perfumes. Art de Parfum, an independent fragrance company, has created a gin and tonic perfume that combines lemon, grapefruit peel, juniper berry, and cucumber notes to create a sharp citrussy fresh summer scent.
Try any combos using these ratios with your favorite essential oils. Spray bottles or decanters work fine.
1/2 ounce jojoba oil or sweet almond oil.
2-1/2 ounces good gin (I use Bombay) 2 tablespoons distilled water (not tap water)
Dark-colored bottle.
~20 drops essential oils