Some beverages, like most food items, have a seasonality to them. Eggnog takes a starring turn during the holidays, and in the fall, it’s pumpkin- and apple-spiced everything. When the calendar flips to spring, the light and cool piney notes of juniper fill the senses as gin & tonic season arrives. Gin has had a resurgence in popularity for quite some time now, and many enjoy it year-round. Yet,there is just something about enjoying a G&T as the weather warms. Like the ospreys’ return to their nests, or peepers singing in the trees, it’s another harbinger of the nicer summer weather to come. Establishments offer an array of gins, most with the familiar juniper taste up front,but each with their own flavor profile from unique blends of botanicals such as licorice root and cassia bark, and herbs like coriander and anise. Bar programs have been including more and more different combinations to highlight the spirit beyond simply adding quinine-laden tonic water. At The West End in Hyannis, the Barcelona offers a classic gin & tonic with subtle twists born from not just what goes into the drink, but how it does.
As the son of an engineer and builder, I learned early on that the look of something, be it building or burger, takes a backseat to how it is constructed. That pillowy, untoasted bun can make a burger look delicious but can collapse like a sandcastle in an incoming tide of burger juices. The West End carefully weighs not only the materials (ingredients), but also the construction techniques it takes to build its list of inventive cocktails.
The Barcelona is a deftly built case of reverse engineering. On this night, bartender Jessica Moldovan (pictured below), with her authentically radiant smile and deep smoky laugh, begins adding ice to the unique vessel of choice – a wine glass. A lime wedge is then squeezed over the ice (unlike the usual garnish added at the completion of the drink assembly). The wedge remains in the glass to continue to add its citrus notes throughout enjoyment. Several juniper berries are added to the ice, as are a few sprigs of fresh thyme, adding their understated, yet vital aroma and flavor. Only then is the gin (in this case Hendrick’s) poured over the ice, mingling with the herbs and lime. Finally, the Barcelona is topped with London Essence Indian Tonic Water, the bubbles from which further blend this mélange with the flavors of citrus and a hint of the bitter quinine.
The Barcelona’s flavor nuances make it especially enjoyable while avoiding the pitfalls, such as a quinine-induced aftertaste, that can result from typical versions. It all adds up to an easy and refreshing beverage to sip while catching up with friends over a light bite at the sophisticated yet welcoming West End bar, or as you settle into a sumptuous banquette for a delectable meal from the Italian-inspired seasonal menu. A classic taste with a refined elegance, the Barcelonais right at home at The West End.
The West End
20 Scudder Ave., Hyannis
WestEndHyannis.com
