Tea Time by Bryan Dayton

For this “unlocked cocktail” pairing I’ve selected something which should appeal to Shane Hales’ (the designer of this puzzle lock) British heritage, a tea based cocktail.  This would be perfect for high tea or happy hour – perhaps one could blend easily into the next with no need to get up and move on.  And I’ve unlocked the secret to no hangovers – no alcohol!  Colorado based mixologist Bryan Dayton created this perfect potion for his Boulder bar and restaurant, OAK at Fourteenth.  Using green tea as the base, it adds lavender syrup, lemon juice and ginger beer (which is of course really just ginger soda, no fermentation in this beer), along with a few dashes of grapefruit bitters to round it all out.  

This is the key to a refreshing "cocktail"  

Now if you want to be a purist, or in this case a “tea” totaler, you might point out that bitters are actually alcoholic.  It’s true, cocktail bitters are complex mixtures of herbs, spices and bark which utilize alcohol to extract the flavors.  In fact they have a high alcohol content, usually over 40% which is compatible with most basic spirits.  But they are only intended to be consumed as a few drops, and must be so bitter as to be considered “non-potable”.  This is why no liquor license is required to sell them.  A few drops in your drink will impart flavor but no significant alcohol, in the same way as adding pure vanilla extract to your baking goods (which also carries a hefty alcohol content, at around 35%).  So you can enjoy as many of these light and refreshing tea cocktails as you like, and have some cookies while you’re at it, too.  Here’s to unlocked locks and libations, a puzzles and potions proxy.  Cheers!

Locks and Libations

Tea Time by Bryan Dayton

2 oz green tea

1 oz lavender syrup

2 oz ginger beer

½ oz lemon

2 dashes grapefruit bitters

Shake together with ice and strain into a favorite glass, or better yet, a tea cup! Garnish with grapefruit peel or the key to a great puzzle.