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Friday, February 18, 2011

Ginger, Rosemary, Lemon Spritzer Friday's 5 o'clock Wet Your Whistle Call!


I’ve got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day as they say in the song. I certainly have an abundance of Meyer Lemons on my tree, the rosemary bush from Christmas that was planted in the garden needs a trim and a knob of ginger left over from the Thai shrimp dinner earlier in the week are all begging for a makeover. The weather is rainy and citrus is so cheerful that I just had to make this lovely cocktail. The concentrate can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week so there is no reason not to have sunshine all weekend!


Yield: Makes 8 drinks
Ingredients:
2/3 cups sugar

1 piece unpeeled ginger knob, about 1 1/2 inches long, sliced into coins

3 sprigs rosemary about 5 inches long, plus 8 shorter sprigs for garnish

2 1/2 cups water

Lemon zest in strips from 1 lemon, use vegetable peeler

Pinch of salt (brings out the flavor)

1 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice (3-4 lemons depending on size and juiciness)

1 small Meyer lemon

1 1/2 cups citron vodka

Club Soda

Preparation:
Lemon concentrate: In a medium saucepan, bring 2/3 cup sugar, ginger, 5-in. rosemary sprigs, and 2 1/2 cups water to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add lemon peel, small pinch of salt and let steep at room temperature 20 minutes. Strain into a medium bowl, discarding rosemary and ginger, and stir in lemon juice and chill.


Garnish: Cut 2 slices from lemon and quarter the slices. Insert a 1 1/2-in. rosemary sprig through center of each quarter.

Cocktails: Pour vodka and lemon concentrate into a large pitcher and stir vigorously. Fill small glasses with ice, add lemon vodka mixture and splash with club soda. Float a rosemary-skewered lemon quarter in each glass.

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