Saturday, July 5, 2014

July Drink of the Month - Dragonberry Lemonade

As much as I wanted to make a red, white, and blue shooter for the Fourth of July, most of these drinks are gross. If you want to poison your insides with blue curacao, peach schnapps and grenadine (top to bottom order), then please be my guest. But as much as I love sugary drinks, that above combination is a little bit too much for me. Even I have my limits when it comes to sugar.


Instead, I've decided that - in honor of America - we're going to make a twist on a classic American drink: lemonade. The drink of the month, Dragonberry Lemonade, was something I tried last week at Wally's in Sagatuck, MI. While the bartender was not on hand to give me his recipe, I came home and I believe I've been able to recreate the drink fairly faithfully. The drink is named for the main ingredient, Bacardi Dragonberry flavored rum, which is rum infused with strawberry and dragon fruit. It also features one of my favorite ingredients, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, as well as ginger beer for a little extra spice and muddled fruit for texture and little bursts of sweetness in the midst of the tart lemon flavor. I hope you enjoy the heck out of it!

Dragonberry Lemonade

In a cocktail shaker, combine the following ingredients:
2 oz Bacardi Dragonberry rum
1 oz St Germain
1 oz simple syrup (1:1 water/sugar)
1 oz fresh lemon juice

Shake over ice, strain and pour into a highball glass. Muddle in 4-6 strawberries or raspberries. Add ice and top with ginger beer (approximately 4 ounces). Stir and serve!

Enjoy your Dragonberry Lemonade!