What I'm Drinking: Strawberry-Rhubarb Smash

Last week a good friend of mine was in Madison for work and we made plans to hang out over the weekend. Given Madison's relatively close proximity to Chicago, we quickly made plans to visit our mutual friends who live there. Another friend of ours who lives in St. Louis also decided to hit the road to spend the weekend in Chicago. I love impromptu get-togethers with friends!

I seriously can't think of anything more rejuvenating than spending a few days with my girlfriends. This weekend had all the hallmarks of a great girlfriend getaway: manis and pedis, lots of chatting and catching up, and of course, plenty of food and cocktails.

Summer is definitely the best season in Chicago -- the weather is warm, the sidewalks are crowded with al fresco diners, and there are street festivals galore.

Speaking of summertime, I think I now have a new favorite cocktail -- the strawberry-rhubarb smash. And it couldn't come at a better time as summer's heat is nearly upon us up here in the Northwoods.

"What is a smash?" you might ask. Well, this classic cocktail contains four main ingredients: a spirit base (in this case, bourbon), fresh mint (or other herb), simple syrup (or sugar), and seasonal fruit. The cocktail gets its name from the muddling (or smashing) together of the mint, sugar, and fruit. (You can read more about the history of the smash here.) Summer is a great time to enjoy a smash as there is just so much delicious fresh fruit to choose from. For my first smash of the season (I have a feeling there are going to be many iterations this summer), I couldn't help but choose strawberries. And of course, it was a bit of a no-brainer to use the rhubarb simple syrup I already had on hand in the fridge.

If you prefer not to have bits and pieces of fruit and herbs in your cocktail, be sure to use a fine-mesh strainer; I prefer the rustic look so I just used the strainer on the cocktail shaker.

The only downside to these cocktails? Well, dare I say they might go down a little too easy. But that really isn't a problem, now is it?

Strawberry-Rhubarb Smash (printer-friendly version)
makes 1 cocktail

2 lemon wedges
4 mint leaves
2 strawberries, rinsed and hulled
1 ounce rhubarb simple syrup (plain simple syrup would do for a strawberry smash)
1½ ounces bourbon
sprig of mint for garnish

1. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle together the lemon wedges, mint leaves, strawberries, and rhubarb simple syrup.
2. Add ice and the bourbon; cover and shake. Strain into a rocks glass (short tumbler) filled with ice (or one ginormous ice cube, in my case). Garnish with a sprig of mint.

(adapted from this SAVEUR recipe)

Cocktail Hour: Amaretto Sour

It has been a long week, and I am most definitely in need of a cocktail. So, I've made my favorite bar standard -- the amaretto sour. Totally girly, and totally delicious.

Amaretto Sour (printer-friendly version)
makes one cocktail

1 1/2 oz amaretto
3 oz sour mix
cherry to garnish (I love Tillen Farms Bada Bing Cherries; they also have Merry Maraschinos)
ice cubes

1. Add the ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Pour in the amaretto and sour mix. Shake to mix.
2. Strain into a rocks glass (filled with rocks!).
3. Garnish with a cherry (or two).

Cocktail Hour: Rum-n-Root Beer

What is it about four-day workweeks that make them seem like they last forever? It felt like it took forever for Friday to arrive this week. Time to celebrate the end of the work-week with a Friday evening cocktail.

Rum-n-Root Beer Cocktail (printer-friendly version)
makes one serving

2 oz rum
4 oz root beer
ice cubes
bing or maraschino cherry

1. Place 3-4 ice cubes in a small glass.
2. Pour 2 oz rum and 4 oz root beer into the glass.
3. Add a bing or maraschino cherry. (I am seriously loving Tillen Farms Bada Bing Cherries right now.)
4. Celebrate the beginning of the weekend!

Memorial Day Cocktail Hour: Lemon-Lime Mojito

Oof, it is hot, hot, hot here in Philadelphia today. These hot and humid conditions so early in the season make me a little nervous for what the summer has yet to bring! I've got to admit we were quite spoiled by the lack of humidity and much-more-mild summer temps in Laramie. On the bright side, I think the heat is an excellent reason to drink an ice-cold mojito in the early afternoon. Thank goodness today's a holiday!

Lemon-Lime Mojito (printer-friendly version)

makes two drinks

8 fresh mint leaves

3 oz lemon-lime juice (juice from one lemon and one lime)

2 teaspoons raw sugar

3 oz rum

club soda

1. Add four mint leaves to the bottom of each glass.

2. Pour 1 1/2 oz lemon-lime juice into each glass.

3. Add 1 teaspoon of raw sugar to each glass (or add in a teaspoon of mint simple syrup).

4. Muddle the mint (use the proper tool, a muddler, or improvise like I did and use the stick end of a wooden spoon).

5. Pour in the rum.

6. Top with club soda (about 5-7 oz, depending on your glass size).

7. Drink!

Cocktail Hour: Strawberry Margaritas

Since it's Cinco de Mayo and we have an abundance of strawberries in our refrigerator, tonight's dinner was served up with a round (or two) of strawberry margaritas.

Strawberry Margaritas (printer-friendly version)

makes four servings

2 1/2 cups crushed ice (about 1 1/2 ice cube trays' worth)

1/2 cup tequila

1/2 cup Simply Limeade

3 tablespoons triple sec

1 lb fresh strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and quartered

1. Add the crushed ice to a blender.

2. Blend the ice with the tequila, limeade, and triple sec.

3. Add in the strawberries and blend to combine completely.

4. Serve in a margarita glass (or a martini glass, if say, you don't own any margarita glasses).

Holiday Cocktail Hour: Christmas Lights Martini

Christmas Lights Martini (printer-friendly version)

makes one cocktail

2 oz 100% cranberry juice

1 oz vodka

1 oz triple sec

ice cubes

colored sugar

1. Place a martini glass in the freezer to chill.

2. Once cold, remove from the freezer and rub a tiny bit of water around the rim.

3. Sprinkle the edge of the glass with colored sugar. Set aside.

4. Pour together the cranberry juice, vodka, and triple sec in a cocktail shaker. Add in a couple ice cubes.

5. Shake, shake, shake!

6. Pour into the prepared martini glass.

7. Drink!