Springtime Dual-Tending Recipes

[sunbaked_baker]

Vodka Thyme Lemonade
Makes 1 drink

3 Lemon Wedges
Granulated Sugar
2 oz Ketel One Citroen Vodka
2 oz Lemon-Thyme Syrup*
1 Splash Club Soda
1 Sprig Fresh Thyme, preferably lemon thyme

Run 1 lemon wedge over the rim of a 12 oz highball glass; dip the rim into sugar. Reserve the lemon wedge.
Put the remaining 2 lemon wedges in a cocktail shaker. Muddle hard, breaking the lemon skins to release their oils. Add Syrup, Vodka and Ice. Cover and shake.
Pour the mixture into the sugar-rimmed highball glass, lemon wedges and all. Top off with club soda, the squeeze the reserved lemon wedge over before dropping it into the glass. Garnish with the thyme sprig and serve immediately.

*Lemon-Thyme Syrup
Makes 1 cup
¾ cup sugar
1 small bunch fresh thyme, preferably lemon thyme (1/2 ounce)
In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup water and the sugar to boiling, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the thyme, remove from the heat, and let stand until cool. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Kachumber Cooler
Makes one drink

2 half-inch slices of cucumber
8 leaves fresh cilantro
2 quarter-inch slices of fresh, medium-mild chili, such as jalapeno or Anaheim
1 3/4 ounce gin
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup

Muddle cucumber, cilantro, and chili in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass until well broken and slightly mashed. Add gin, lime, and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into a double rocks glass, half filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of cucumber.

Watermelon Mojito
Makes one drink

2 ounces rum
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
6-8 mint leaves
3 1/2 ounces watermelon flesh, cut into cubes

Muddle watermelon and mint in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Add rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, and shake well with ice. Pour (without straining) into a double rocks glass.