The Story Behind The Clarified London Fog

Created by Patty Dennison, head bartender of NYC’s Grand Army Bar, the Clarified London Fog serves up all the beloved flavors of the classic tea latte in a rich and citrus-forward drink.

As a variation of the Clarified Milk Punch, prepping the London Fog cocktail begins with making the milk punch itself, which combines Earl Grey tea with a medley of citrus fruit juices and vanilla syrup for a bit of sweetness. Once the tea and juice mixture combines with the milk, curds will form, at which point the punch mixture is finely strained. Don’t fret if the first pour doesn’t come out clear. According to Dennison, it may take several rounds before the drink is fully clear.

The special thing about this cocktail is that it does not call for a specific base spirit, though rum, whiskey, and sweet vermouth are all great options. Given the open-ended nature of the cocktail’s base, the Clarified London Fog is perfect for whipping up in large batches and serving alongside a selection of spirits for your guests to build their own at your next holiday gathering.

This recipe is part of our 2023 Holiday Cocktail Countdown. Click here to see all of the festive recipes as they publish throughout December.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup water
  • 2 Earl Grey tea bags
  • 20 grams granulated sugar
  • 20 grams Vanilla Syrup*
  • 20 grams lemon juice
  • 20 grams orange juice
  • 20 grams grapefruit juice
  • 90 grams milk
  • 60 grams any spirit of your choice
  • Garnish: fresh nutmeg

Directions

  1. Combine tea bags with ¾ cups of boiling water and allow to steep for 5 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, combine tea and sugar and stir until dissolved.
  3. Add Vanilla Syrup and citrus juices to the tea and sugar mixture and stir to combine.
  4. Stir in milk and allow to curdle slowly, between 10-30 minutes.
  5. Once curdled, strain mixture through a cheesecloth or coffee filter over a fine mesh strainer.
  6. Strain as many times as it takes for the mixture to flow clear.
  7. Combine 2 ½ ounces of milk punch and 1 ounce of the spirit of your choice and stir.
  8. Serve in a rocks glass over a large block of ice.
  9. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

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(18 votes)

Yield: 30 minutes
Updated: 2023-12-22

*Vanilla Syrup Ingredients

  • 8 cups sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 vanilla bean, halved and deseeded

*Vanilla Syrup Directions

  1. Combine sugar and water in a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Stir until dissolved.
  3. Pour into a quart container and stir in the vanilla bean seeds and pod for extra flavor.
  4. Seal the container and allow to sit for 12 hours before using.
The Clarified London Fog