Tie One On Tuesday

We have had 3 whole days of sunshine and my garden is loving it! My little herbs and veggies are soaking up the rays! My Rosemary, Thyme and Lemon Basil are going crazy. Besides cooking with these awesome herbs, I wanted to find a couple of cocktails to go to dinner. 

The first cocktail is made with a simple syrup made from lemons and Rosemary. It is so refreshing on a hot summer day! 

Vodka Rosemary Lemonade Fizz 

Via Epicurous

1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
2 (8-inch) rosemary sprigs
1/2 cup vodka
Chilled club soda or seltzer

 Bring lemon juice, sugar, and rosemary to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Discard rosemary sprigs.

Fill 8 (8-ounces) glasses halfway with ice.

Divide syrup (about 2 tablespoons each) among glasses and add vodka (1 tablespoon each).

Top off with club soda. 

Thyme also pairs well with lemon beverages. Here is an awesome take on the good old country time. 

Country Thyme 

1 sprig Thyme
10 to 1 blueberries
Half a lemon, roughly chopped
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1/4 oz Organic agave nectar

 Place the thyme sprig in the palm of your hand and slap it to release its oils. Twist it and place in the bottom of a glass.

In a shaker, muddle the blueberries and lemon.

Add the vodka and agave nectar, and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 20 seconds and strain into the prepared glass

Lemon Basil smells so good and it mixes so well with vodka (what doesn't go with vodka?). I love a good gimlet-it's fun to say and fun to drink! Again, you are going to make a simple syrup with the herb.

Lemon Basil Gimlet

2 cups lemon basil

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

1 cup basil lemon syrup
1  cups vodka
1/2 cups fresh lemon juice

ice cubes

For the simple syrup, boil the lemon basil water and sugar. Stir until dissolved and then simmer for 2 minutes. After that, let the syrup sit for an hour. 

In a shaker, mix simple syrup, vodka and lemon juice with ice. 

Pour cocktail over ice and garnish with a lemon

Summer time, garden cocktails, lounging in the pool...all of these things make me extra sunshiny happy! Enjoy!

PS-I think I have a hidden obsession with lemons.