Oysters, A Love Story | Issue No. 2: Holistic Spirits Kitchen

June 1, 2024

With spring about to be in the rearview it’s time for summer and it’s time to think about how much we love oysters! So we wanted to give you some pairings of just how versatile and tasty fresh oysters can be with a half dozen recipes for topping oysters whether just shucked and icy cold or roasted over a winter fire.

Fresh, as in most things gastronomic, matters. So I want to let you know how I found my favorite oysters. I was driving through the North Fork of Long Island NY’s wine country when I passed a house with a big old tree in front with fishing buoys hanging off it like a nautical Christmas tree and under the tree a huge cooler and like a kid sneaking a peak under the tree, I was surprised to find the cooler full of bags of 24 count oysters a bit more poking around to find out they were for sale at about a dollar a piece and a box attached to the trunk was for honor system purchase. Deal!

I had them all that night, quickly whipping up traditional mignonette and some sliced lemon, impeccable. Now remember this was the pandemic so all the restaurants in the state were closed and this kind of “farm stand” and home delivery is how many of our farmers and fisherman survived. I was surprised to find out that the oysterman was Captain Matt Ketchum, father of two who runs his business out of his home and boat with wife, mom and dad all playing a role. Matt, started fishing on the East End with his dad when he was five, got a BA in aqua culture at University of Rhode Island and in 2009 won a lottery for ten acres underwater in an estuary of the Great Peconic Bay and he went right to work putting together his oyster “farm”.

It’s no surprise that Matt meticulously grows an especially plump and beautifully “cupped” oyster known as a Peconic Gold that got him through the pandemic with the help of that decorated tree farm stand, I was lucky to roll up to during a tough time for all purveyors of hand wrought, grown and caught ingredients. I was thankful for their harvest and happy I could help.

This is the kind of hard work, integrity, and quality that Holistic Spirits Co. can get behind.

Oh and did I mention he is a great guy?!

Speaking of pairings, we here at Holistic Spirits Co. weren’t going to leave you hanging if your dipping your toe into spirits this summer we have a few bespoke cocktails below and we think our antioxidant infused spirits along with our sustainable approach to distillation that is carried through to having a tree planted for every bottle makes for, a smarter way to drink!

Peconic Gold Oyster Stand, 21125 Country Rd.48, Cutchogue, NY, 631.495.7061

Roasted Oysters

Roasted oysters with Origen Vodka clarified boozy butter, (because nothing brings joy more than butter!)

INGREDIENTS:

12 oysters
3 tbsp of unsalted butter, cut it into 1-inch chunks
2 oz Origen Holistic Spirits Vodka
2 C coarse salt for serving plate bed
sm. bunch flat leaf parsley or chives, minced

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Melt it in either a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Let the melted butter sit for 10 minutes, lower heat and then skim off the milk solids floating at the top with a soupspoon. Pour off remaining clear butter into a heat resistant pitcher or cup keeping solids from the bottom of the pot from being included.

Step 2: Whisk in the Origen Vodka, keep clarified butter warm for serving.

Step 3: Grill the oysters, place them on a hot grill or broiler until they open, it doesn’t take long so keep an eye on them. Pour the coarse salt on to serving plate and with tongs or kitchen towel nestle each shell onto the salt. Drizzle a teaspoon of butter on each oyster and garnish with herbs.

If you want to supercharge this offering finish with a teaspoon or less of caviar, any kind from salmon roe and lump fish to ossetra and beluga. The pop of each sphere cuts through the oyster and butter goodness.

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Pair with our Harmony French 75

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz Harmony Gin
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
3 oz Champagne (or other sparkling wine)

Garnish: lemon twist

Glassware: Champagne flute

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.

Step 2: Strain into a Champagne flute

Step 3: Top with the Champagne or sparkling wine of choice.

Step 4: Garnish with a lemon twist.

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Martini Mignonette

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz Origen Holistic Spirits Vodka or Harmony Gin. Your choice!
1 oz Lillet Blanc
1 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
1 shallot, mince, reserve
3 cocktail olives with pimento, mince, reserve
1 lemon zested with micro plane or fine side box grater, reserve

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Mix together the minced shallot, olives and lemon in a small bowl to create a kind of tapenade.

Step 2: Add spirits to a cocktail shaker full of ice, shake until ice cold.

Step 3: Spoon martini on to freshly opened cold oyster and garnish with bit of shallot/olive tapenade.

Pair with our Origen Spatini

INGREDIENTS:

4 sprigs of fresh Mint
4 slices of cucumber
1 ½ oz Origen Vodka
½ oz St Germain Elderflower
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz lime juice

Garnish: mint leaf

Glassware: Cocktail or Rocks

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: In the bottom of a cocktail shaker place the syrup and mint, muddle well. Add ice and rest of ingredients, shake vigorously. Double strain into glass.

Courtesy of Nick Mautone

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Other Cocktail Ideas...

Basilico

More subtle than mint and more unique at the same time. Adds diversity to our cocktail strategy.

INGREDIENTS:

4 sprigs of fresh Basil
4 slices of cucumber
1 ½ oz Origen
½ oz St Germaine Elderflower
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz lime juice

Garnish: basil leaf

Glassware: Rocks Glass

DIRECTIONS:

In the bottom of a cocktail shaker place the syrup and basil, muddle well. Add ice and rest of ingredients, shake vigorously. Double strain into glass.

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Le Ack Spritz

INGREDIENTS: