I’m no mama, but I am special.
So’s my drink. A few months ago, I made a double batch of simple syrup (2 cups sugar dissolved in 2 cups of water, over heat) and soaked some mint leaves for about 30 minutes. It’s way better than actual mint in a drink, which soaks up the booze and gets stuck in your teeth.
Suddenly, I had instant juleps, and once I ran out of bourbon, I started experimenting. You really don’t need anything fancy to make a good cocktail, but my love of glassware keeps me from saying you don’t need anything fancy to serve it in. Do that at your own peril.
I come from a long line of brown liquor drinkers. It can be our kryptonite. I like all kinds of whiskey and bourbon, and just recently started getting into cognac and brandy.
You can take any brown liquor and use it in this drink. I’m sure other liquors, like vodka and gin, would be delightful, too.
Mama’s Special Lemonade*
- 2 oz. brown liquor
- a few squirts of lemon juice, bottled or fresh
- 0.5 oz. simple syrup (could be mint-infused)
- top with club soda
*I never measure, and everything is to taste. Cheers!
The Grog 