It’s 95 degrees out right now.
Real feel is something like 101.
Humidity is pretty awful.
Time for a gin drink. A GIN drink! With fresh herbs and citrus juice.
Let’s get right to it:
Lemon Verbena (or any herb, really) simple syrup:
- For the simple syrup
- Equal parts sugar and water, plus several leaves (no stem) of herb of choice. I used lemon verbena leaves.
- Add all ingredients to sauce pan over low heat, stir until sugar dissolves. Let cool, then strain into jar, and put in fridge. Lasts up to a week or so.
- A gimlet is:
Gin + lime juice + sugar (or simple syrup)
For this recipe I did:
- 2 oz gin
- 2 oz lime (this is very citrusy, which was great for the heat!)
- 1 oz simple syrup
- lemon verbena leaves and mint leaves as a garnish
Shake vigorously with ice, double strain, garnish.
The herbs for garnish are not just for looks. When you stick your nose in the glass, your nose is overwhelmed with a lot of aroma. The smell is a big part of the cocktail experience. I used a toothpick because I plucked the leaves from the stem.
Enjoy, and stay cool. Drink lots of water!*
*A great thing I heard regarding drinking water right when you wake up: Drink a glass of water right when you wake up. Why? It’s been 6-8 hours of no drinking fluids. Wouldn’t you be thirsty otherwise? It’s a great, easy way to wake up.
Obedient Ingredients 