Porch Cocktails No. 4

Mixed Berry Collins
Mixed Berry Collins

All summer long, I stalk my local farmers market for the week’s freshest offerings. I initially recce the aisles, recalling recipes, pairing ingredients in my head, and determining how much produce one person can realistically consume in one week. Some salivating may occur, but I try to restrain myself, lest I look too much like a crazed, hungry predator stalking stationary prey.

When I see a quart of berries or a bushel of peaches, I think of all sorts of delicious baked goods, of course. I love the grandeur of beautifully constructed pies and tarts, and the satisfaction of turning out crisp, flaky pastry from a handful of simple ingredients. But, when temperatures and humidity soar, that pastry is sometimes difficult to achieve. That’s when I throw in the tea towel, and dream up ways to work those lovely, fresh fruits into a crisp, refreshing porch cocktail. Read more

Porch Cocktails: Homemade Tonic Syrup

G&T with Homemade Tonic

In my first porch cocktails post, I professed my love for a refreshing G&T. I also mentioned that I was in the midst of crafting some homemade tonic syrup in an effort to spruce up my go-to summer indulgence. Even with memories of this hilarious, disastrous saga in the back of my mind, I was itching to make my own tonic. I’m not one to be scared off by horror stories of DIY gone wrong. In fact, anecdotes like these have been known to encourage me. So, I found a recipe through David Lebovitz’ blog, and hunted down my ingredients, adapting the recipe to suit my needs.

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Porch Cocktails No. 1

Gin and Tonic

What says summer afternoons on the porch like a gin & tonic? It’s the perfect drink to have in hand while I lounge and read, which is the inspiration for my summer porch cocktails series. Sadly, I’ve finished my spring stash of the stellar nectar that is Hendrick’s gin. It was a wonderful transition into summer, and made even a standard weeknight cocktail feel like a treat. Now that I’ve taken off my academic hat in favor of a little summer downtime, though, I’m embracing less formal concoctions. I stumbled upon this WSJ article—with tons of suggestions for upgrading a G&T—just as I was transitioning from my favorite spring cocktails to their summer cousins. I was inspired to experiment, so I sampled a few G&Ts made with Hendrick’s gin and Fentiman’s tonic. They were incredibly delicious—with more complex botanical flavors and less sweetness—but I don’t find that their undoubted superiority warrants the steep price of the ingredients. A humble combination of Seagram’s extra dry gin and Canada Dry tonic is perfectly acceptable, in my opinion. I pay this drink the same respect I would its pricier counterpart, and find the ritual equally enjoyable.

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Spring Cocktails No. 4

Song Bird

Welcome to the final post in my spring cocktail spree. I’ve waxed poetic about a simple classic, the perfect drink for a lazy afternoon, and a wild mess of my own creation. Now, it’s time to introduce another springtime favorite: Green Chartreuse. Hang in there, because I can’t do this miraculous liquid justice with a brief description. Skip to the end if you’re only here for the the recipes. Then, maybe jump back up here when you have a drink in hand.

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Spring Cocktails No. 3

The Phryne Fixin's

Hello, you gin fiend, you. Welcome back to my spring cocktail series. I’ve covered my favorite gin classics—the martini and the gimlet—in previous posts, and now I’m turning to something a bit ridiculous of my own creation. I like to imagine this is what the fabulous Phryne Fisher was drinking in Away with the Fairies, when the bartender at her Adventuresses Club created a cocktail in her name.

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