Saturday evening we were able to sit outside and enjoy the yard after a pretty rainy week. I'm definitely not complaining about the rain - the trees, lawn and flowers are well watered. 

This drink is a twist on the original Tom Collins and it has a botanical blend of flavours. Super refreshing - the perfect summer drink.

I prepared the lavender syrup earlier in the week with culinary lavender buds. 

Cocktail Scale (out of 5*)
James 5*
Mellissa 5*

We both LOVED this drink.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces gin
• 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce lavender syrup (see below)
• club soda

For Lavender Syrup

• ¼ cup dried lavender
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons water

Garnishes (optional)

• lemon slices
• lavender sprigs 

Instructions
To make the Lavender Syrup

1. Add ½ cup water and ¼ cup lavender to a sauce pan, bring to a boil. Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out flowers and discard.
2. In a clean saucepan, add ½ cup of sugar and 3 Tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, then stir in lavender liquid. Whisk until fully combined, remove from heat and transfer to a storage container.

To make drink

1. Add gin, lemon juice and lavender syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold, then strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of sparkling water, then gently stir. Garnish with lemon slices and lavender sprigs.

​Recipe from Fox and Briar 

As we inch toward summer solstice, I decided to make a light, refreshing drink. 

Even though rhubarb is in abundance in the back alleys of our 'hood, I bought rhubarb because I don't trust back alley rhubarb. I have seen our dogs use it for target practice many times!

​I made the rhubarb syrup at home and brought it out to the trailer. I have a mint plant at the trailer so I used fresh mint snipped from the plant. Ummm...fresh mint!

Cocktail Scale (out of 5*)
James 4.25
Val 4.25
Mellissa 4

Ingredients

• 3 - 4 cups rhubarb (2 large stalks)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Lime (sliced)
• 1/4 cup mint, loosely packed leaves torn
• 2 cups strawberries
• Club soda or seltzer
•  Ice
• 1 bottle Rose wine

To make the rhubarb simple syrup combine rhubarb and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add 1/2 cup sugar and stir until dissolved. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for about 30 minutes. Strain in to a bowl or jar. Can be refrigerated for a week.

To prepare the drink, combine rose wine, rhubarb syrup, sliced lime, torn mint leaves and strawberries in a pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 

When ready to serve, fill a glass with ice, pour in sangria and top with club soda. Don't forget to scoop in some of the fruit from the pitcher. Garnish with mint and strawberry. 

My friend Marilyn sent me the link to this recipe and since I had all the ingredients, I decided to make it.

It is really good and super refreshing. Thanks for the recommendation Marilyn! I followed the recipe she sent with one slight change - I muddled the basil in to the drink instead of just using it as a garnish. 

Cocktail Scale (out of 5*)
James 4.75*
​Mellissa 4.75*

 Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 large seedless cucumber, coarsely chopped and divided
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2/3 cup vodka - I used Strathcona Spirits Vodka (a great local distillery)
1/4 cup water
4 fresh basil sprigs

Place sugar and 1/2 of the cucumber pieces and 2 sprigs of basil in a large, wide-mouthed glass or 2-cup measuring cup. Muddle lightly.

Add lime juice and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Pour lime juice mixture through a fine mesh sieve into another measuring cup.

Stir in vodka and water.

Fill two lowball glasses with ice. Divide cocktail and remaining cucumber pieces between two glasses. Garnish with basil.
​
The recipe that was sent to me was from Garnish with Lemon and can be found here

If you have a drink recipe you would like us to try, just send us a note!

I was gifted a bottle of Licor 43 from a friend. Licor 43 is described on the bottle as "a secret Spanish family recipe of Mediterranean citrus fruits infused with selected botanicals". I found it had a strong and sweet vanilla flavour.

It came with a recommended recipe, The Licor 43 Screwdriver, so that's what we tried out.

The Screwdriver was a great drink. We had it late in the afternoon but it would be a perfect brunch drink. I didn't have the orange to add which I think would have made a difference. Val added some lime from another drink she had just finished and said it tasted better with the lime. 

Cocktail Scale (out of 5*)
James 4.25 *
Val 4.25 * 
Mellissa 4.25*

Ingredients
1 oz vodka
1 oz Licor 43
3 oz orange juice
ice
cinnamon stick and orange slice for garnish

In a tall glass combine vodka, Licor 43 and orange juice. Stir and add ice. Garnish with three orange half moons and a cinnamon stick.