a summer cocktail
Some say that really good bourbon should not be diluted or tampered with at all. Ever. Well, as much as I agree that the rich, barrel-aged, smooth-caramel-finished brown spirit is often best enjoyed in a tumbler with an ice cube or two, the scorching hot summer here in Phoenix doesn’t create the best environment for sipping whiskey. Mar and I just got back from a really awesome family trip down in the south, and being that we were celebrating my bother John’s graduation, there were plenty of crafty cocktails getting passed around. The trip just seemed to get my palate warmed up for handmade drinks like the Old Fashioned, and I came home inspired to create a mashed up something of my own.
I went to Sprouts to stock up on some organic fruit and made off with the most mouth-watering super sour red cherries and some tender and ripe apricots. The fruit paired so nicely with the bourbon, and the ice cold bubbles put me at ease. I really like what came together and wanted to share the steps here in case you’re in search of a new kind of refreshing cocktail to get you through these scorching summer days (and nights)!
The smash: How to make it at home
The fruit should be available at your local market. I keep seeing these sour red cherries everywhere! The apricots are in full swing right now as well. I also picked up some organic apricot preserves to take the flavor intensity of the cocktail to the next level.
Step 1 :
Combine 3-4 slices of apricot into a mixing glass, along with several halved and pitted cherries. Use a wooded spoon or muddler to crush the fruit.
Step 2:
Once you have macerated the cherries and apricot, stir in 1 tablespoon of extra fine sugar, and a 1/2 tablespoon of apricot preserves.
Step 3:
Add your bourbon, and stir the mixture for 30 revolutions.
Step 4:
After everything is grooving inside your mixing glass, strain the mixture over some fresh ice.
Step 5 :
Top off the glass with club soda and garnish with a cherry and a sprig of fresh mint.
So go ahead, kick your feet up and take in the sunset with the person you love, in a place you love, drinking in this beautiful life that we have!
the ingredients:
1.5 oz bourbon
.5 oz apricot preserves
1 tablespoon extra fine sugar
3-4 slices of apricot
3-4 halved and pitted cherries
2 ounces of club soda
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