Three Berry-Cherry Cocktail Coolers for Summer
"The worlds collide, but all that we want is a shady lane."
Photographer Ed Anderson was in town from California this week shooting a cookbook, and while he wasn’t crashing at my place this trip we managed to meet up several times, twice at Long Island Bar. One of those outings was a perfect “feels like summer” evening and I was craving a cooling, refreshing drink. Since Toby Cecchini was behind the bar I asked if he wouldn’t mind making me one of his Gin & Tonics inspired by his father. He carefully julienned the peels from two halves of a juiced lime and muddled them in three ounces of Tanqueray, floating the translucent green mixture on the surface an ice-filled glass of bubbly tonic water, and topping the drink with the aromatic crescents of spent lime. Just perfect.
While summer is officially a few weeks away, MDW is underway and I wanted to share three cocktails of mine (two from Bitters, one from Amaro) that involve seasonal fruit and bubbly water or soda. While each cocktail calls for a specific fruit, feel free to mix it up. So when you’re stopping by the roadside pie stand this weekend or at the greenmarket, pick up a pint of cherries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries and start shaking up these summer cocktail coolers.
Have a great weekend!
Rickey Ramazzotti
Brad Thomas Parsons, Amaro | Brooklyn, New York (2016)
A Ramazzotti rickey is one thing, but Rickey Ramazzotti sounds like a decent guy from the neighborhood. He’s the guy you call to help you move out of your apartment. This is my bitter take on the cherry limeade from Sonic Drive-In, which, when you’re on foot and not behind the wheel, is even better when spiked with bourbon. I’ve always loved the root-beer spice notes of Ramazzotti—especially how they work together with the vanilla notes from the bourbon and the brightness of the lime.
Makes 1 Drink
6 cherries, pitted
2 lime wedges
1/2 ounce simple syrup (1:1 sugar:water)