September is upon us! (One of my favorite months of the year, just in case you were wondering.) There aren’t that many hot days left in the year, at least here in Montana, that cool, refreshing drinks pair so well with. This week’s Thirsty Thursday might just be perfect for those fleeting days of summer. A Celery Tonic.
I know what you’re thinking… “Celery? Really?”. Hey, don’t knock it till you try it. As has been chronicled on these pages this summer, gin has been really growing on me this year. It probably helps that it is pretty much the official liquor of the fly shop. This refreshing and easy tonic uses gin, and therefore is worth a try.
You will need:
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 ounces gin (a healthy splash if you measure like I do)
A twist of lemon for garnish
First off use real, fresh lemon juice. None of that bottled stuff allowed. Fresh ingredients will make a world of difference. Muddle the lemon juice, celery, and sugar in a cocktail shaker for about a minute until it is well mixed. Add gin and fill the shaker with ice. Shake the hell out of it until the outside of the shaker ices up. Pour into an ice filled glass and garnish with the lemon twist. Enjoy.
There is no hard and fast rule about only drinking cool and refreshing drinks like this on hot, summer days, but they are perhaps best enjoyed as such. That being said, I could see this being made in our household in the middle of winter. Just because…
Enjoy.
