Just before embarking on my week-long stay at a cabin with my in-laws and friends, I posted to Twitter and Facebook, hoping to find a local cocktail that would impress the crowd. My friends chimed in helpfully, offering suggestions such as "gin and lake water" (thanks Graeme!) and "lemonade with Shaker vodka, muddled local raspberries or Door County cherries, and mint (thanks nearly everyene else?)."
Although the lemonade drink was - by far - the biggest hit with my wife, I found myself drawn to something entirely different. It's a cocktail suggested by The Strip Club's JD Fratzke, with the following ingredients:
- 1 shot of Prairie Organic Vodka
- 1 tsp of Ames Farm Single Source, Minnesota Basswood Honey
- Muddled Local Cucumber
- Muddled Local Mint
- Club soda or ginger beer
- Ice
Here's how I made it:
- Peel and cut cucumber, wash mint.
- Muddle cucumber and mint at the bottom of a tall glass.
- Add ice.
- Add a shot of vodka.
- Add a (generous, in my case) teaspoon of honey. Stir.
- Fill the rest of the glass with club soda or ginger beer. Stir again.
Those of us who liked this drink really liked it - if the ingredients sound appealing to you, it's a shoe-in. My wife doesn't like the idea of cucumber in her drinks, for example (she doesn't do Hendrick's Gin either), so there was no way this was going to work for her. As always, it really helps to use great ingredients (like the ones I've listed above). When we ran out of Ames Farm honey, we used whatever we could find in the local grocery store. The difference was enormous.
A friend said the drink reminded her of drinking straight from a fresh garden, so I've named the drink The Boozy Garden. Thanks JD - I hope I made you proud!







Comments
Love this - it's like a Minnesota Mojito (Minnejito?)! The hubs is the house bartender so I will it along to him. I'm addicted to Ames Farm honey, although it's the creamed stuff that I crave.
Hi Noodle!
I'm with you re: Ames Farm. And I'm looking forward to hearing what your hubby does with the drink. I bet he'll have a few good ideas of his own. I was at Dinner on the Farm last night and Phillips served their Prairie Vodka with a honey rhubarb syrup. Wow.
See you,
Lee
uh, yes. i will be utilizing this week's CSA cukes on this delightful recipe. although limiting the local aspect, i AM a hendrick's devotee and may twist it up with that...we'll see.
keep these summer drink ideas coming...the weather is PERFECT for sipping cocktails on the patio!
Thanks Tracy, I'll do my best. :-) Let me know what you think of the Boozy Garden in the meantime.
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