Water of Life

From Frank Herbert's Dune...   

 

 

Happy 60th birthday to Dune! I've been meaning to tackle this one for years now, and since a few of you have been throwing it in the suggestion box recently (maybe because of the awesome new Dune films or possibly the new game) now is as good a time as ever. Especially since I just happen to have a fully stocked bar and a desert backdrop for... other reasons.  

 

The Dune universe is rich and layered. From the harsh, unforgiving beauty of Arrakis to the deeply rooted customs of the Fremen, and the secretive, strategic maneuvers of the Bene Gesserit, there's so much to explore. But we're focusing on just one element today: The Water of Life.

 

This powerful blue liquid is made by drowning a young sandworm, which causes it to release a bile that’s essentially pure unadulterated spice. For the Fremen, it’s a sacred part of their rituals, the key to unlocking their ancestral memories. When a Sayyadina or a prospective Reverend Mother consumes the undiluted Water of Life, the spice grants her unrestricted access to the genetic memories of all her female ancestors. Historically, only highly trained women have been able to drink the Water of Life and live. That is, until (Spoiler alert, I guess? This series is 60 years old, y'all...)  Paul Atreides drinks it to unlock his own extraordinary powers, shaping his destiny as Kwisatz Haderach, a messianic figure.

 

Okay, blah blah blah, epic Dune stuff, but what does it actually taste like? We get some hints when Paul’s mother, Jessica, chooses to become a Reverend Mother. Unsurprisingly, it mostly tastes like spice. Throughout the Dune series, spice is often described as having a cinnamon-like flavor, but with a bit more complexity. During this very intense sequence, Jessica also notes that the Water of Life is cool and sweet, yet with a sharp bite. Oh, and it’s blue, just like the blue-within-blue eyes of the Fremen.

 

That gave us plenty to work with, so here’s what I came up with: The star of the show is the Spice Melange Syrup, which mostly tastes of cinnamon, but with some other spices thrown in to round things out and give it a flavor that skews slightly Levantine. I used tequila as the base for the drink since it's a desert spirit, blue curaçao for that vivid blue color, and lime juice for a sharp, clean bite. Unsurprisingly, the result is very much like a spiced margarita, with prominent cinnamon and spice notes from the melange syrup. I personally also added a dash of cardamom bitters, but that is optional. 

 

No sandworms were harmed in the making of this cocktail.

 

 

 

Ingredients 

 

For the Spice Melange Syrup:

• 4 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
• 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 whole allspice
  
• 1 whole star anise (optional)
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1 cup water

 

For the drink:

• 2 ounces silver tequila
• 1 ounce blue curacao 
• 3/4 ounce lime juice 
• 3/4 ounce Spice Melange Syrup
• A dash of cardamom or other spiced bitters (optional)
  
• Pinch of blue or silver luster dust (optional)

 

 

 

Directions

 

For the Spice Melange Syrup:

1. In a small saucepan add the water, sugar, and spices and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat. The sugar should be fully dissolved.  
2. Let the spices continue to steep while the syrup cools in the pan, then strain out the spices with a mesh strainer and transfer to a sealable container, such as a mason jar, or a syrup dispenser.
3. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
   

 

For the drink:

1.  Optionally, chill the serving glass or bottle in the freezer for 10 to 15 seconds.
2.  In a shaker filled with ice, add the drink ingredients. 
3.  Shake for 10 to 15 seconds until well-chilled.
4.  Strain into the serving glass or bottle. If using a bottle, you'll probably want to use a funnel to prevent spillage.
5.  Prepare for the Spice Agony (or hangover).
6.  Repeat: "I shall not fear. Fear is the mind killer..."

 

 

 

Non-Alcoholic Version: If you don't do alcohol, here's my list of general swapping suggestions.  In this case, I'd recommend getting a commercial nonalcoholic tequila substitute, like Ritual or Free Spirit's NA tequila. Swap the blue curacao liqueur with blue curacao syrup. From there, make the drink as written, but add a splash of mineral water (one that has a nice bite, like Topo Chico) or even a light colored ginger beer (I recommend Q brand) if you like things spicy.

 

Other Applications:  In Dune, the spice is often infused into food and drink. Use the Spice Melange syrup to make spice coffee, spice beer, or spice tea. Drizzle it over porridge, yogurt, fruit, pastries or cakes. You could even use it as a glaze for grilled or roasted meats and vegetables.

 

 

 

 

This post went live before the recipe was fully dialed in (oops!) so it’s seen a few experimental phases already, some involving Botanist gin, aquavit, and even Becherovka. In the end, I settled on a pretty classic daisy/sour structure and make the the custom Spice Melange syrup the focus, which leaves the door wide open for creative riffs. Although I think tequila made the most sense thematically, I’ve still got rhum agricole and pisco on my "To Try" list for the base.