If you are like me you have a plethora of herbs filling your summer garden.
Of course, we all know that you can cook with them, but have you thought about sipping with them too? I am not just talking about the mint that grows like a weed and spreads across your garden. There are other herbs and even edible flowers that are super delicious and beautiful to add to your cocktail creations. Fresh sage for instance is amazing paired with tequila; try it in my Sunset Sage Margarita recipe.
Summertime is the perfect time to sip on a Collins. Combine vodka, fresh lemon and local honey syrup with a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Shake it up and finish with a splash of soda. If your backyard is brimming with berries, shake in a few of those too!
And I’m a big fan of fresh rosemary in cocktails. For an herbal gin & tonic, add in a sprig of rosemary with a squeeze of orange.
Another fun idea is freezing herbs and edible flowers in ice cubes! Pick up some silicone large-format ice cube trays. Fill them half way with water and then pop in the freezer for 45 minutes to “lightly set”.
Now, add in all kinds of herbs and edible flowers. I personally love to put thyme with my pansies, or sage with rose petals, then fill with water and freeze again. Great to add to any summer style cocktail.
Here’s to summer sipping with garden cocktails! Cheers! –Kathy
Photo from Kathy Casey’s Northwest Table.
Sunset Sage Margarita
Makes 1 drink
1 fresh sage leaf
1 1/2 oz reposado tequila
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup*
1/2 – 3/4 oz fresh lime juice (depending upon the sweetness you prefer)
Garnish: fresh sage leaf
Tear the sage leaf and drop into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, then measure in the remaining ingredients. Cap and shake vigorously until very cold.Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or serve over ice. Garnish with a sage leaf.
Recipe from Kathy Casey’s Northwest Table.
