“The last of winters citrus is coveted & converted.”
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When Life gives you Lemons…
This introductory page is dedicated to those moments, sometimes chapters in our lives that did not turn out exactly as we planned. Well chin-up buttercup, I gift you three fabulous things to do with lemons that will totally change your perspective on life. Or at least on lemons.
The Botanical Lemon Drop…
When life gives you lemons, make a Lemon Drop.
Chapter 1- Rx: The Botanical Lemon Drop
Serves 1
1 Meyer lemon, juicy
1 oz. agave (Organic)
2 oz. vodka (I used Tito’s)
2 sprigs of lemon Verbena
1 Tbsp. Super Fine Sugar (Bakers Sugar)
Cracked ice
1.) Zest lemon using a microplane zester and set aside. Prepare martini glass by cutting lemon in half & gently twirling rim of glass against one half, squeezing gently. Your objective is to moisten rim without squirting excessive juice. Place sugar on a plate and twirl rim into sugar, set aside.
2.) Gently roll Verbena Leaves between your fingers bruising the leaves & releasing the fragrant oils. Place in a small bowl & pour vodka over. Set aside.
3.) Juice lemon halves with a wooden reamer, measure 1 1/2 Tbsp. for cocktail and add to the zest. Reserve remaining juice for another purpose.
4.) Fill shaker 3/4 with ice; add measured lemon juice, agave & Vodka. Shake vigorously (10-15 seconds) & carefully strain into prepared martini glass trying not to disturb the sugared rim.
Note: You will need to use a fine mesh strainer rather than the one in the top of the shaker to remove any zest.
We are loving on this Mixologist Kit! Perfectly giftable in a rustic wooden crate.
Bar décor we are digging on!
Notes on ingredients.
Vodka is a neutral spirit, simply meaning that it lends itself well to many different flavor profiles. We used Tito’s for this cocktail as it is a gluten free, small batch vodka with a lovely astringent quality. Meyer lemons are undeniably the choice of mixologists, cooks & bakers alike. They are juicier & thinner skinned with a floral zest and a slightly sweeter juice making them a highly desirous commodity for a cocktail. Using an organic Agave instead of a simple syrup is a brilliant improvement as it is the perfect consistency & just happens to be lower on the glycemic index.
Notes on Verbena.
The lemon drop, beautiful in its simplicity. Hitting it with a single herbal note heightens the experience with out unnecessary complication. Verbena is perennial herb with a delightful lemon essence balanced with a hint of vanilla nuance. The oils when released by bruising the leaves, are extremely aromatic and possess a calming, sedative effect when consumed. It makes a lovely addition to an herb garden, very conducive to a container garden, requiring little maintenance. Since the leaves may be sparse this time of year, you could substitute lemon thyme for this cocktail, which will produce a little earthier flavor profile.
Tools of the trade/ Shop this Story…
Sharp Knife
Glass Ice Bucket (unnecessary to produce this cocktail but a classy bar addition none the less)
Stemware (I like the stainless steel martini glass)