A little somethin' somethin' to get the summer party season started

By Kevin Grzyb in Food on May 27, 2005 6:38PM

Chicagoist is gonna be your best friend. With the holiday lurking around the corner this weekend and the hangovers slowly lifting from last night’s Chicagoist First Birthday Party, it is just the right time for Chicagoist to unleash and share with you the greatest summer drink in the history of the free world: Rosemary Lemonade.

This is a recipe from Chicagoist’s little brother, the chef, and we have been loving on this for the past couple of years. It takes the cool, refreshing, sweet/bitter, sitting on grandma’s back porch after cutting the grass on a hot summer day memories and throws in a crisp herb packed punch. It’s subtle, but right there. Try it and you’ll see.

The how to:

Raw ingredients:
Lemons – Enough to get a cup of lemon juice (about 5 large lemons)
Sugar - 1 cup
Water – 1 cup
Fresh Rosemary – 6 sprigs (more or less)
Ice
Vodka

First make a simple syrup:
Bring a cup of sugar and a cup of water to a boil, then add the rosemary and drop to a simmer. Let simmer until you can smell the rosemary. Turn of the flame and set aside to cool.

Second:
Squeeze a cup of lemon juice. Chicagoist likes the Mexican style lemon/lime press, because you get the maximum of juice without twisting your wrist off. (you can find these in Mexican groceries or in cooking supply stores)

Third:
This is a little iffy, you see, we kinda cook with a hit or miss, a little more of this, pinch of salt style, so formal recipes are not our friends. Anyway, get a gallon pitcher and add the lemon juice, strain in the simple syrup to remove the wilted rosemary stems and leaves, add ice and fill pitcher with water while stirring.

Finally:
Fill a tall glass with ice (crushed, preferably) add a shot of your favorite mixing vodka (although our little brother and his head bartender swear that it is just as awesome with gin) fill with lemonade mixer and garnish with a lemon wedge with a sprig of rosemary in it. We also have been doing a variation with the same recipe as above, but in a half gallon pitcher, then pour half the glass with the lemonade mixture and top it off with Pelligrino (sparkling water) for that effervescent finish.

Enjoy, but watch it. You can spend an evening leisurely sipping these on the porch only to try to get up and find out that you are done in.

Hope you enjoy.
Thanks for the recipe, Brian!
Don’t drink and drive.
Pictures by Kevin.