Dates are a prehistoric fruit, eaten by the cavemen. Indeed, the plant has earned its title as the “Tree of Life” given its antiquity. The earliest records of dates are from 5,000 to 6,000 BC, spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East. It’s estimated that dates were first cultivated in southern Iraq circa 4,000 BC. India grows roughly 40 to 50 varieties, which are either categorized as soft or dry. Examples of important soft varieties include Medjool, Shamran, Hayany, Halawi, Saidy and Kalas.
When it comes to sweetening a cocktail, sugar is just the starting point. Honey is an alternative but dates are the best option. When rendered into a thick, sticky syrup sometimes called date molasses, dates offer a warmer and more complex flavor than your regular granulated stand-by, with less sweetness.
Smoky Camikara is delightful and flavorful cocktail that combines the richness of date molasses, the nuttiness of Camikara rum, the warmth of cinnamon, and the brightness of citrus. The complexity of the date molasses syrup adds a unique twist to the drink.