Try serving these spirited summer sips to guests or making them for yourself.
Spiked Rosemary Lemonade
Servings: 1
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 rosemary sprigs
1 lemon wheel
2 ounces vodka
1/4 ounce rosemary simple syrup
2 ounces lemon juice
2 ounces club soda
Method
Make Rosemary Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water and 1 rosemary spring, and bring to a simmer. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat. Steep 30 minutes, then remove rosemary sprig and cool completely. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Mix The Lemonade: Place 2 rosemary sprigs, a lemon wheel and ice into a cocktail glass. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add vodka, rosemary syrup and lemon juice and shake. Poor into glasses, and top with soda.
Summertime Punch
Servings: 12
Ingredients
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
1/4 cup sugar
1 large orange, sliced
1 large lemon, sliced
1 lb. fresh whole local strawberries
1 bunch fresh mint leaves, rinsed
One 750-ml bottle Pimm’s No. 1
2 cups gin
4 1/2 cups soda water or seltzer water
Ice cubes for serving
Method
Make Cucumber Simple Syrup: In a small bowl, combine the diced cucumber with the sugar. Mix until the cucumber pieces are completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Mix The Punch: In a large punch bowl, combine the orange, lemon, strawberries and half of the mint. Pour in the Pimm’s, gin, soda water and cucumber simple syrup, and stir until combined.
Serve in glasses with ice, and garnish with the remaining mint.
