This is how to bring sunshine and style to your summer drinks.
I’ve been swimming in strawberries lately, and I promise I’m almost done. There might be one more recipe tomorrow, but after that I’ll give my favorite berry a little break. There’s something about perfectly ripe strawberries that never gets old — even when you’re eating them straight from a grocery container in a temporary kitchen-less situation. You know exactly what I mean.
This cocktail is pure summer. I’m so ready for warmer days and long, lazy evenings on the patio. Even if my schedule doesn’t change much, summer still puts me in that vacation headspace — the same one that lets me stay up late on the weekends and treat weeknights like school nights. Basically, I’m twelve at heart.
One of the simple pleasures I’m looking forward to this season is sitting on the back patio with Max, having dinner or a relaxed happy hour. Some days are already in the high 70s and 80s, so boozy lemonade feels perfectly acceptable right now. Consider it a head start for Memorial Day — or even Mother’s Day. As a mom, I wouldn’t complain about a glass of this on Mother’s Day.
Also, I’m putting together a huge 2017 summer playlist. It’s a work in progress and very long.
For drinks like this, I recommend buying good-quality lemonade. You already make the strawberry puree and strain part of it for juice, so using a store-bought lemonade saves time—especially if you’re making multiple pitchers for friends. Homemade lemonade is lovely (I have a strawberry mint lemonade recipe I’ve made before), but a quality ready-made option is totally fine here.
The method calls for both strawberry puree and strawberry juice: blend fresh berries with a little water, then strain half to create a bright, fresh juice while reserving the other half as a thicker puree to sit at the bottom of each glass. That puree gives the drinks a pretty layered look and concentrated strawberry flavor.
Don’t skip the ice — lots of it. Crushed ice is ideal because it chills the drink quickly and keeps everything cold, but a generous amount of cubes works well too. The combination of super-cold lemonade and gin is especially refreshing.
If gin isn’t your preference (I get it — it can be divisive), substitute vodka and you’ll still have a terrific, easy summer cocktail.
Strawberry Gin Lemonades
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Ingredients
- 2 to 3 tablespoons strawberry puree
- 1 to 2 ounces gin
- 3 ounces strawberry juice
- 4 ounces lemonade
- sliced strawberries and lemons for garnish
strawberry puree
- 2 cups quartered strawberries
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
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Fill each glass with a spoonful or two of the strawberry puree, then add plenty of ice. Pour 1 to 2 ounces of gin over the ice and stir to combine with the puree. Add a few ounces of the strawberry juice, then top the glass with lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices and strawberries, add a straw, and serve immediately.
strawberry puree
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Blend the strawberries with the water until smooth. Pour half the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to strain out seeds and solids — this is your strawberry juice. Reserve the remaining thicker puree for the bottoms of the glasses. Any extra puree can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a few days.
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Thanks so much — I appreciate you!
Now I just need a pool.