Weekend Libation: Vodka Ginger Mojito

Now that the warm weather is here I’ve made the transition from those wonderful brown liquors of bourbon and scotch to those lighter, clear and silver colors of vodka, rum, gin (Hendricks only) and tequilla.  Here is one of my all time favorite summer drinks.  It is a variation of the traditional mojito.

Ingredients:

3 quarter-sized slices ginger
1/2 large lime, cut into four wedges
six or seven large mint leaves
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 1/2 ounces good vodka
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup (a mixture of equal parts sugar and water boiled together and cooled)
Ice
Club soda

In a sturdy, thick-bottomed glass or mixing tin, muddle the ginger to loosen it and release the flavor. Then add the lime wedges, mint, and brown sugar, and muddle together.

(Don’t Fear the Muddler - see fantastic video below on proper muddling techniques)

You’ll know you’ve muddled enough when the sugar dissolves and you start to smell the mint and ginger.

Pour the vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup into the mixture. Add ice, and shake for about ten seconds. Top it off with a splash of club soda.

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy!