An original cocktail that calls to mind enjoying a shady porch on a hot summer’s evening.
Shady Porch Cocktail
1 1/2 oz. mint-infused vodka
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. mint simple syrup
3 to 4 oz. Ginger Ale
lime slice and mint sprig for garnish
Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Stir together vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup. Pour over ice. Fill glass with Ginger Ale. Gently stir. Garnish with lime and mint.
(Thank you to Tim S. from NY for being my hand model and drink taster.)
As I write this post, I am taking a break from preparing for a wedding to be held at the B & B this evening. I have the flowers arranged and the wedding cake layers are in the oven. Hopefully that means that all is going well. If it weren’t the case that I still have a lot of work to do and that it isn’t even yet nine in the morning, I might be tempted to have a margarita because it is Cinco de Mayo … and really it feels much later in the day than it is. But I shall wait until the festivities tonight. It is always so exciting to host a wedding!
This is a slightly unusual margarita, being made with lemon juice instead of lime and having a touch of Midori for color and for a little extra sweet-tart flavor.
Lemon Midori Margarita
(1) Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Add 2 oz. of a reposado tequila, 1 oz. Cointreau, 1 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 oz. Midori. Shake vigorously for one full minute.
(2) Run a slice of lemon around the edge of a margarita glass or cocktail glass. Dip glass in kosher salt or margarita salt. Fill glass with ice.
(3) Strain margarita into glass. Garnish with a wedge of lemon. Enjoy!
If you are planning a warm weather party, you might be looking for a fun cocktail to serve. Blackberry Mojitos are a festive drink for Spring and Summer celebrations.
Blackberry Mojito (1 Serving)
(1) Muddle (i.e. crush together) several fresh mint leaves, 6 large blackberries, 1.5 T. of sugar in the bottom of a short cocktail shaker.
(2) Fill shaker with crushed iced. Add 2 oz. rum of your choice. (Lighter rum will yield a lighter drink color.) Squeeze the juice of one lime into shaker. Shake vigorously for 1 full minute to chill drink and melt ice.
(3) Run a slice of lime around the rim of a cocktail glass. Dip glass in sugar. Fill glass with ice cubes.
(4) Strain cocktail into glass. Garnish with a slice of lime and sprig of fresh mint. Serve right away. Have fun at your party!
A Taste of Morning 