“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.
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)