Rafsanjan Silk
Pistachio and sherry, silky and gently sweet.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka | 45 ml | 1½ oz |
| Dry amontillado sherry | 15 ml | ½ oz |
| Pistachio orgeat · homemade, P10 | 20 ml | ⅔ oz |
| Culinary rose water (optional) | 1–2 drops |
Ounces are rounded; measure in ml for accuracy. Homemade items link to their own page.
small chilled coupe
shaken with ice, served up
a pinch of finely chopped pistachio on one edge
The story
In September, the pistachio orchards of Rafsanjan on the edge of the Kerman desert are harvested by the truckload. When the shell splits open on its own, Iranians call the nut khandan, “laughing.” The green kernels end up in everything sweet: gaz, sohan, baklava and saffron ice cream. This drink is pistachio at its most elegant: a homemade pistachio orgeat with a nutty, dry sherry, shaken into something soft and silky.
Method
- Shake the pistachio orgeat bottle well before measuring.
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 15 seconds to build a silky texture.
- Fine-strain into a small chilled coupe.
- Sprinkle a pinch of finely chopped pistachio on one edge.
How it tastes
Round and smooth, with toasty pistachio, a dry, nutty sherry backbone and just enough sweetness. It is opaque by nature, silky rather than clear.
Persian taste: shirin (sweet), charb (rich)
Pair it with
- Food: Panir-e Liqvan, sharp sheep’s cheese, with walnuts and bread.
- Sweet: Pistachio baklava, cut small.
- Snack: Salted roasted Rafsanjan pistachios
Variations
Rose and pistachio
Add the optional rose water, or use the rose-scented pistachio orgeat, for the flavor of Persian sweets.
Saffron silk
Use the saffron pistachio orgeat (P10 concept 3) for a golden-green drink.
Dessert silk
Add 15 ml heavy cream and shake harder. Rich and after-dinner.
Balancing tips
- There is no citrus in this drink on purpose; it is a soft, nutty sipper.
- If it tastes too sweet, reduce the orgeat to 15 ml.
- Shake hard; the orgeat needs aeration to feel silky.
Allergens
- Pistachio (tree nut)
- Sulfites (sherry)
- Contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
Development notes
- Status: draft recipe, not yet taste-tested.
- Check sweetness at 20 ml versus 15 ml orgeat.
- Inspiration: Original house recipe.
Watch it mixed
Follow along
Steps light up as the animation plays. Tap a step to jump to it.
Heads-up: this animation was rendered from an earlier draft, so the amounts on screen differ slightly. Follow the ingredient table above.
Kerman (Rafsanjan), imagined
