More than 75% through our drink-by-state tour of the United States, today we stop by South Dakota for a trip through the Black Hills…

~~~oOo~~~

Black Hills Stream

There’s still that 50/50 chance that today’s state is actually number 39 and not 40 as it shows up in most lists, but we’ll not rehash that old tale again. Instead, let’s focus on what makes South Dakota a state apart from it’s northern kin.

Home to Tom Brokaw and Laura Engalls Wilder, the Mount Rushmore State sports those famous stone visages in the Black Hills–so named for their appearance, from a distance, covered with pine trees of various types makes the mountains look black. And I’m not sure where I thought Deadwood and Wounded Knee were located (though I suspect I thought it was somewhere in the southwest) but apparently those sites are in South Dakota, too!

Black Hills Stream

1 oz Gin
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
1/4 oz Goldschlager

Combine all ingredients over ice in a mixing glass and stir until the ice tumbles about like stone going through a wash plant (we’ve been watching Gold Rush Alaska). Strain into a chilled cordial glass and, if your lucky, you might find a bit of gold in your glass.

The gin is for the pine trees, the goldschlager is for the gold. The scent of the botanicals in the gin teases your nose (along with the cinnamon, of course) and lies subtle under the stronger liqueur. Schnapps have a way of taking over a drink, so using them in small doses is generally a good idea but especially so in shots.

Now, I’m going to sit back, watch Natural Treasure 2 and sip the rest of my drink.

~~~oOo~~~

We’ve only got 10 more states to go. Next up is Montana!