The Vanishing Hour

Paper Title: Graff Zivin, J and M Neidell, “Temperature and the Allocation of Time: Implications for Climate Change,” Journal of Labor Economics, 32(2014): 1-26.

Cocktail Pairing: Vanishing Hour

Rationale: This paper documents how rising temperatures reduce labor supply among those who work outdoors or in buildings without air conditioning. As heat intensifies, workers adapt by quietly scaling back their hours—an economically meaningful but often invisible form of climate response. This cocktail reflects that subtle, rational withdrawal. The base is London dry gin, chosen for its clarity and structured restraint. Mezcal adds a whisper of heat and exposure, while gentian liqueur provides a sharp, bitter edge to mirror the harsh limits imposed by climate stress. A splash of coconut water evokes the body’s need for hydration, and a few drops of saline capture the taste of sweat—an embodied signal of effort, depletion, and adaptation. Lemon juice tightens the profile, and a cucumber ribbon garnish nods to the cooling instincts that guide us away from the sun. The Vanishing Hour borrows the backbone of a White Negroni but moves in a dry and bracing direction. 

Recipe: Vanishing Hour

• 1.5oz Dry Gin

• 0.5oz Mezcal

• 0.5oz Suze Liqueur

• 0.25oz Fresh Lemon Juice

• 0.25-0.5oz Coconut Water

• 3 dashes Celery Bitters

• 2 dashes Saline Solution

• Garnish: Cucumber Ribbon and Lemon Wheel

1. Combine all ingredients with ice in a shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled

2. Strain into a lowball or whiskey glass with large ice cube.

3. Garnish with cucumber ribbon and lemon wheel.