The Story Behind The Peak of Summer

Today I’m sharing a cocktail that I like to call the “Peak of Summer,” which is a riff on the classic gimlet. I’ve been overloaded with berries recently, especially some deliciously sweet and ripe strawberries. And while I’m sure there are “healthier” ways to consume them, I find combining berries and booze to be the best.

To keep it simple and less costly I find infusing the fruit with sugar instead of alcohol really brings out the flavors well, and if a batch doesn’t come out right I haven’t wasted a bottle of gin or vodka. The balance in this cocktail really comes from the combination of lime juice and strawberry simple syrup, with the gin there simply to add a little kick and accentuate the lovely floral and citrus flavors.

This cocktail can be enjoyed any time through the day or night no matter what the weather is doing, but it’s especially delicious in the summer when everything is fresh and ripe. Cheers to summer cocktails!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces of gin
  • 1 ounce of lime juice
  • ½ ounce of strawberry simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 3 chopped strawberries plus more for garnish
  • Edible flowers, for garnish

Directions

  1. Fill cocktail shaker with gin, lime juice, strawberry simple syrup, and fresh strawberries.
  2. Shake mixture and then double strain into the serving glass.

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Yield: 1
Updated: 2020-07-23

Strawberry Simple Syrup Ingredients

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of water
  • ½ cup of strawberries

Strawberry Simple Syrup Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on medium heat until all the sugar has been dissolved.
  2. Cool syrup, then keep in an air tight container for up to two weeks.
The Peak Of Summer Recipe

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