FRESH BLUEBERRY FIZZ
PREP TIME
5 minutes
ACTIVE TIME
5 minutes
TOTAL TIME
5 minutes
EASY
½ cup fresh blueberries, plus 6 blueberries for garnish
¼ cup Fresh Mint Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
4 ounces vodka
Ice
Splash of club soda
2 sprigs mint, for garnish
Put the blueberries in a cocktail shaker and use a cocktail muddler to crush them, then add the mint syrup, vodka, and enough ice to fill the shaker. Cover the shaker tightly with the top and shake vigorously for a few seconds, or until the mixture is very cold. Hold a mesh strainer over the top of the strainer on the shaker top and double-strain the cocktail into two lowball glasses filled with crushed ice; top each glass with a splash of club soda and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
Makes 1 cup
Prep time: 5 minutes
Active time: 5 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes (includes cooling time)
Easy
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup water
1 large bunch fresh mint (1 ounce)
1. In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar and water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar has completely dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat, then use your hands to tear the bunch of mint in half, add it to the saucepan, and use a spoon to press down on the mint to completely submerge it in the syrup. Let the syrup cool in the saucepan for 1 hour.
3. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a small bowl and pour in the syrup and mint. Strain the syrup, using the back of a spoon to press down on the mint to extract as much flavor as possible. The fresh mint simple syrup will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
