First Taste of Summer

We finally got a break from the rain! Saturday was the first 80+ degree day since last September…and it was dry! Somehow, the man of the house managed to gather up the will power to go out and mow the lawn after getting home from his 10 hour day at the restaurant.

That feat deserved a treat! I found the first of the local (if you count Washington as local!) cherries at the Oregon City Farmers Market, so I decided to make a Smith House Collins for the Man of the House…a real taste of summer.

Smith House Collins
(Yield: one 10 ounce cocktail)

Pit two fresh Bing (or other) cherries, leaving the stem on one. Put the pitted, stemless cherry in the bottom of a 10 oz Collins glass, press it with a spoon to release its juice, add ice to fill the glass.

Combine in a cocktail shaker:
1 ½ oz Aviation Gin
¾ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup (1 part water to 1 part cane sugar)
Add ice
Shake until cold.

Strain the mixture from the shaker into the glass. Top with soda water and garnish with the remaining cherry.
Note: I used a lemon from our garden…lemons can vary in sweetness, so adjust the simple syrup as necessary.

The Smith House Collins

 

The Cocktail Hour is Basil's favorite time of day!