Its an out island Bahamian classic that is served by the pitcher around regatta time.  Don’t let the mixture of gin and coconut put you off. It’s incredibly refreshing and should not be reserved solely for boating spectacles.

We have two versions here.  One, the fancier and a bit less cloying “Coconut Milk Cocktail” from the fine minds over at The Dram.  The other is the original Gully Wash, the timeless favorite of  out island fisherman and sailors from whatever ingredients they could get their hands on (read condensed milk).  Enjoy and make sure you give both a try!

image courtesy of the dram

The Dram’s Coconut Milk Cocktail

Ingredients:

– 1 oz. good Gin

– 1 1/2 oz coconut milk, full fat, none of that “low fat” bullcrap

– 1/2 oz Cardamom Syrup

– squeeze of fresh lime

– 3 shakes DRAM Black Bitters

– ground Turmeric root

For the Cardamom Syrup:

– 2 cups sugar

– 2 cups water

– 1/4 cup Cardamom pods

– 2 tsp ground Cardamom

In a medium saucepan bring the water to a boil. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the cardamom pods and ground cardamom and remove the pot from heat. Allow the cardamom to “steep” until the mixture has cooled. Strain the cardamom pods from the mixture and voila! Cardamom syrup!

Directions:

Combine gin, cardamom syrup, a squeeze of fresh lime and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass. Shake well and vigorously to prevent the coconut milk from curdling, if it does that is quite alright, it won’t kill you, it’s just the fat congealing because of the alcohol. Strain the mixture into a fresh glass over ice. Dust with a pinch of ground turmeric.

Out Island Gully Wash

We drink these after days fishing the flats, on the boat by the milk jug and just about any other time we gather.