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Cocktail History
The Buttermilk Maple Gin Flip is a brunch cocktail of unknown origin that was published in the book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes. It’s a unique variation of the iconic flip template that uses juniper-forward gin as the base instead of an aged spirit and mixes it with slightly sour buttermilk, rich maple syrup, thick egg, and fragrant, freshly grated nutmeg.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a type of liquor made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used West Cork Distillers Garnish Island Gin because it has floral and herb botanicals with chocolate notes. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Buttermilk: This is a fermented liquid that’s made by culturing and fermenting milk products. We used Prairie Farms Buttermilk.
Maple Syrup: This is a syrup made with the sap from maple trees. We used a local maple syrup.
Egg White & Yolk: This is both the clear liquid and yellow portion in an egg. We used fresh egg white and yolk because they add a rich, silky smooth texture.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a spice made from the seed of a nutmeg tree. We used whole nutmeg from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Grater: This is used to grate spices or citrus peel. We used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
Tasting Notes
The Buttermilk Maple Gin Flip starts with nutmeg aromas and has a thick, creamy taste that initially features sweet maple and milk before moving onto a dry and botanical gin note accompanied by more maple, which all linger heavily on the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Since we both already love gin, we liked the Buttermilk Gin Flip a decent amount because it features the botanical spirit so heavily. That said, if you’re less juniper-inclined, you may be better served if you swap out the gin for an aged spirit such as brandy, bourbon, or even Scotch instead.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“My first thought when trying this drink was how dry and botanical it was compared to other typically dessert-like flips. The buttermilk is an interesting choice; it gives it a slight dryness and a delectably creamy mouthfeel when paired with the egg. This is definitely a flip geared towards gin lovers because the botanical spirit shows up heavily throughout, especially in the swallow.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I generally find the spirits used in flips pretty muted in flavor, but this recipe is an exception, for sure. What I thought would be a creamy drink with notes of gin ended up being the other way around—prominent gin botanicals rounded out by a thick and creamy mouthfeel and a hint of maple. I can’t say this is my favorite flip I’ve tried, but it was tasty. We ended up dialing back the gin ratio a bit so it was a little more palatable, and honestly, I’d also add in a little allspice dram if we made it again because it needs something else. If you aren’t already a fan of the juniper-forward spirit, this probably won’t be a hit for you, but if you are, this is a great brunch cocktail for showcasing various brands from your gin collection. Each will taste completely different.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.
Add gin, buttermilk, maple syrup, egg white, egg yolk, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Remove ice from shaker.
Dry shake for 5-10 more seconds to emulsify egg.
Strain into a goblet or cocktail glass.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Ingredients
Directions
Add gin, buttermilk, maple syrup, egg white, egg yolk, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Remove ice from shaker.
Dry shake for 5-10 more seconds to emulsify egg.
Strain into a goblet or cocktail glass.
Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Make It a Mocktail: Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Brunch Cocktails
If you like this brunch cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
French Toast Flip: A sherry, Scotch, and apple brandy cocktail made with maple syrup, allspice syrup, egg white and yolk, orange and fig bitters, and ground cinnamon
Nucleus Mimosa: A sparkling wine cocktail made with orange juice, cranberry juice, and a lime slice
Mocha Rum Toddy: A rum cocktail made with coffee, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder
Garibaldi: A low-proof cocktail made with orange juice, Campari, and an orange slice
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