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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.

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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!


Anatomy of a Cocktail

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.

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