As the saying goes…when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Then, find someone to whom life has given bourbon.  Add a grill, a dock, some tunes, and you have a perfect summer day!!

The craft for the day:  Bourbonade.  Stolen shamelessly from my friend Sharon, this beautiful concoction is ideal for a leisurely day when you’ve got some time to invest.  This is craft cocktailing at its finest.  Much like coffee — which comes in many preparation methods — when done at a slow bar, slow does indeed raise the bar.  ‘Slow’ not only bring out the intricacies of flavour, it also gives ample time for conversation over your art.  So, if an hour-ish to prepare a cocktail holds any intrigue, we highly recommend giving this one a try!

Plus, we’ve had a request for “fewer words, more pictures” (of course, missing the point entirely of a blog…).  There might not exist a more photo-worthy cocktail journey…this one is verging on cocktail porn.

Bourbonade

rosemary simple syrup (makes 8-10 drinks)

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Heat & stir until it hits boil, then remove from burner
• Add 2 springs rosemary and steep (20-30 min)

grilled lemonade (makes 8-10 drinks)

• Cut 18 lemons in half
• Dredge in sugar
• Grill on medium until it looks like the photo (10-20 min)
• Remove, cool slightly, and squeeze juice out of lemons
• Strain to remove pulp, as desired

mix

• 1-1/2 oz bourbon (rye also is lovely)
• ½ oz rosemary simple syrup
• 1-1/2 oz grilled lemonade
• Top with soda water
• Stir and add ice
• Garnish with lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary

 

Food Pairing:  We went with a bag of chips!  It’s all about balance.  Lots of effort in the cocktail…no effort on the nibbles.

 

Song Pairing:  We’re Going to Be Friends, White Stripes

Ok, Bourbonade, I can tell that we are going to be friends…

 

We Canadians are a hardy lot, but even the most indefatigable winter enthusiast among us is ready to firmly shut the door on both winter and spring, and move on to our earned reward of summer.  Which is why, when the somewhat sporadic warm days of May arrive, we sun-starved Canadians happily doff parkas for tshirts, swap the boots directly for flip-flops, and move from snow-tired SUVs to opened sunrooves and convertibles.

This proud display of optimism (the glass half-full version of oblivion?), is none more evident than on the May long weekend.  Frigid lake waters be damned!  The May “two-four” plunge is a cottage tradition!   Black flies and mosquitos be damned!  Lather on some Deep Woods Off, and stand beside someone with Type O blood (true fact!).  We are ready summer!  You are getting a big fat smooch from us, even if you are still acting bashful and coy!

With that attitude of optimism and unabashed positivism for summer days ahead, we offer you a cocktail salutation to all that is the May long weekend…we give you …

A Full Mosquito

• 1-1/2 oz raspberry vodka
• 5-10 fresh raspberries
• 10-20 pomegranate seeds
• ¼ oz maple syrup
• 3 oz soda water
• 1 lime wedge
• 1 sprig of mint
• muddle raspberries and pomegranate seeds, straining juice into glass
• add vodka and maple syrup; stir to dissolve
• fill glass with ice and soda water
• garnish with raspberries, blackberry, lemon wedge

 

Pairs well with:  Cranberry Vanilla Scones

Huh??  Scones on the dock?  Well, we couldn’t very well ignore that other noteworthy event this weekend.  Alas, with a TV-free, WIFI-free cottage,  Harry & Meghan’s nuptials will have go unwatched by our cottage guests this weekend.  As a close proxy, we suggest a lovely scone pairing — bakery-purchased, or try this awesome recipe (by the best scone baker I know…thanks Barb G! 🙂

• 3 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup Dannon Vanilla yogurt
• 3/4 cup dry cranberries
• combine first 5 ingredients, using pastry blender to make a course mixture
• add yogurt and mix
• mix in cranberries
• turn out onto lightly floured board and knead til well blended
• either make 2 discs and cut into 8 triangles, or make loose mounds of dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or till lightly browned

 

Song Pairing:  Say Hey (I Love You), Michael Franti & Spearhead

This is the ultimate good cheer, light-hearted, hopeful, buoyant song.  And it’s a love song!  So it works equally raising a glass with friends on the dock, or around the telly celebrating a royal wedding!  Cheers!