×
Patrón Tequila Logo

Choose a location

Patrón Tequila
  • Our Tequilas
  • Cocktail Lab
  • Menu
  • Find
  • Our Tequilas
  • Our Story
  • Sustainability
  • Cocktail Lab
  • Gifting
  • Shop
  • Search
  • About Us

  • Stories

  • Our Process

  • All Recipes

  • Cocktails For You

  • Cocktail Collections

  • Bartenders

  • Personalize

  • Engrave

  • Gift Sets

  • Gift Guide

  • Our Tequilas
  • Our Story
    • About Us
    • Stories
    • Our Process
  • Sustainability
  • Cocktail Lab
    • All Recipes
    • Cocktails For You
    • Cocktail Collections
    • Bartenders
  • Gifting
    • Personalize
    • Engrave
    • Gift Sets
    • Gift Guide
  • Shop
  • Find
Get Pickled: How to DIY the Ultimate Garnish of the Season
Cocktail culture

Get Pickled: How to DIY the Ultimate Garnish of the Season

Dec. 10, 2015

Pickle chips on a burger, pickle relish on a hot dog at the ballpark, bread-and-butter rounds made from scratch to nosh on as a satisfyingly crunchy snack. Ah, the pickle. While most well known to the American palate as a cucumber, you can pickle practically anything.  

A pickle is essentially a food that has been preserved in a brine or vinegar, with the purpose of extending its shelf life. While the addition of liquid is necessary for some foods, others, such as cabbage, have enough moisture that all you need is some salt to coax it out. In cultures near and far, foods from herring to onions to cabbage (think Korean kimchi and German sauerkraut) have been bottled up and used as condiments year-round. 

But aside from the practicality of it, pickles are enjoyed for their sour, sweet, salty, tart and spicy qualities. Happily, pickles and their brines pair just as well with spirits as they do with foods. While you may be familiar with adding a tiny pickled onion to a Gibson, the pickle is an unexpected but delicious garnish for tequila-based drinks as well, such as pairing a Patrón Silver martini with a pickled lemongrass stalk. And turns out, pickling at home is not only a great way to add a personal touch and a unique nuance to a cocktail, but is super easy.

Brine recipes abound, starting with the basics of sugar, salt and vinegar. For the spices and herbs, black peppercorns and coriander seeds are a good place to start. As for choosing which items to pickle, begin with your seasonal fruits and vegetables. For example, cherries, peaches and sliced red onions are no brainers.

To make your brine, bring your ingredients to a boil in a saucepan and make sure your sugar and salt are dissolved. Then, pour the brine into your sterilized jar, over your vegetable or fruit of choice. Close the jar, then boil the jar itself to lock out the bacteria. Most pickling recipes will provide a processing time, but you’ll know that it’s done once the jar’s lid depresses or looks concave—just like the indented lid on a new jam you find at a store. These can keep up to two months.

Now, get to pickling! Your martini is waiting. 

Ingredients

    • 1.5 oz
    • +
    • 2 oz
    • 1
    • Patrón Silver
    • MARTINI Extra Dry Vermouth
    • Ginger-Lemongrass Pickle brine*
    • Ginger-Lemongrass Pickle slice for garnish*

How to Make

*Ginger-Lemongrass Pickles

1 slice English cucumber

1 slice fresh ginger, peeled

1 lemongrass stalk, peeled and smashed

1 ½ cups white vinegar

1 garlic clove

1 tbs black peppercorns

1 tbs sugar

1 tsp salt

For the Ginger-Lemongrass Pickles, place the cucumber slice, ginger and lemongrass stalk in a 1-quart capacity heatproof jar. In a small saucepan, bring the rest of the items to a boil. Pour mixture into the jar with cucumber slices. Remove from heat, cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container until needed. Pickles will keep for up to 1 week.

For the cocktail, rinse a chilled martini glass with vermouth and add a pickle slice. Stir the Patrón Silver and pickle brine in an ice-filled glass. Strain into the prepared glass. 

  • Share:

Tags:

  • DIY
  • Trends
  • Mixology

Related Stories

  • How to Set Up a DIY Margarita Bar Cart
  • Surprisingly Delicious Ways to Use Tequila as a Cooking Ingredient
  • What Food Pairs Well With Tequila?
  • A Masterfully Handcrafted
    2024 Cinco de Mayo Celebration
  • What Exactly is Cristalino Tequila?
  • National Tequila Day

More to Explore

  • Eat Discover Patrón-inspired meals and treats.
  • Drink Enjoy recipes, tips and trends that pair nicely with tequila.
  • Create Be inspired by people who are passionate about their craft.
  • Do Enhance your celebrations, happy hours and on-the-go lifestyle.

From Our Hands to Yours

Patrón is proudly handcrafted every step of the way.

Explore our story
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Purchase Online
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map

THE PERFECT WAY TO ENJOY PATRÓN IS RESPONSIBLY.
©2025. PATRÓN, ITS TRADE DRESS AND THE BEE LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS.
HANDCRAFTED IN MEXICO.
IMPORTED BY THE PATRÓN SPIRITS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL., USA
TEQUILA – 40% ALC. BY VOL.

CONTENT FOR 21+. ONLY SHARE WITH THOSE OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY VISIT RESPONSIBLEDRINKING.ORG AND RESPONSIBILITY.ORG.

Shop Silver
×