Man, this summer project has been fun! Drawing on the freshest, most exciting produce of the season and infusing it into organic, artisinal liquors has turned out to be one of my very favorite “kitchen witch” crafts. I think it’s because they lend themselves so well to creative play. All those alluring tinctures, the syrups and liqueurs and garnishes and cocktail accessories. It’s an endless parade of inspiration!
And at first we let our imaginations run wild, throwing all kinds of crazy combinations of flavors into our shaker, mixing up whatever seemed intriguing. It was so fun!
But, it’s also fun to return to your roots, sometimes. To revisit a classic and tweak it a bit, add a little modern (or postmodern, as it were) spin on it. Enter: A Strawberry Mule
The Moscow Mule is a traditional cocktail made from vodka, ginger beer, and lime. It’s a simple drink (though usually served in a very not-simple copper cup, because who knows why), fine and dandy in it’s own right.
But strawberries! Obviously. Strawberries make everything better.
To make 1 Strawberry Mule, you’ll need:
2 ounces strawberry-infused vodka (see infusion instructions here; strawberry takes about a week)
juice of half a lime
ginger beer
In a shaker full of ice, add the strawberry vodka and lime juice. Shake well to fully combine, then pour into a glass over ice.
And top with ginger beer.
Garnish with a strawberry, a lime, or both! We also added a few sticks of candied ginger, which we made real quick by sautéing strips of fresh ginger in agave syrup until it was thick and caramelized, then allowing it to cool and harden.
Totally optional, but highly recommended. Cheers!
♥
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