As May rolls in along with the rain clouds which apparently never end, so rolls in another cocktail of the month! Originally I was planning on crafting some whiskey based cocktail. May is, after all, the month of my birth and whiskey is, after all, my favorite spirit. Well, in the words of Sam Elliot, “sometimes there’s a [cocktail]… I won’t say a hero, ’cause, what’s a hero? But sometimes, there’s a [cocktail]. And I’m talkin’ about Dark Cherry Lime Gin and Tonic here. Sometimes, there’s a [cocktail].” That quote is, of course, from The Big Lebowski, and I took some creative liberties with it because I wanted you to read it in his voice. Anyway, a gin cocktail somehow unseated a whiskey cocktail from my cocktail of the month for the month of May. Here it is, enjoy the Dark Cherry Lime GT.
If you read my cocktail of the month from March, you would know that gin isn’t really my thing. I feel like I need to rephrase that, because maybe gin wasn’t really my thing. Maybe gin is becoming my thing. Maybe when you take the perfect combination of ingredients, put them together, swirl it around, and sip on it on a beautiful spring day gin can become your thing to. Just, maybe.
How to Make a Dark Cherry Lime GT
Start off by making the lime simple syrup. Place your water, sugar, lime juice, and lime zest into a small sauce pan over medium heat. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, making sure that the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from the heat and pour into a container that can have an air-tight lid to cool (don’t put the lid on yet, though).
Into an old fashioned glass place ice. If you want your cocktail to be Instagram worthy, try an over sized ice cube from this silicone ice cube tray. Pour in two tablespoons of the already prepared lime simple syrup, one tablespoon of dark cherry syrup, and your gin. Give the cocktail a good stir for roughly 15 seconds, then float the tonic over the top. Garnish with a dark cherry, serve, and enjoy!
Music Recommendation
Since this beverage is best enjoyed on a nice day, outside, on a patio, and with close friends or family, why not listen to a song that elicits that same feeling. Try U2 – Beautiful Day. Doesn’t it just make you feel like something great is about to begin?
Dark Cherry Lime GT
Ingredients
Lime Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- zest of one lime
Dark Cherry Lime GT
- 1.75 oz gin
- 2 tbsp lime simple syrup
- 1 tbsp dark cherry syrup
- club soda
- dark cherry for garnish
Instructions
Lime Simple Syrup
- In a saucepan over medium heat combine water, sugar, lime zest, and lime juice1/2 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup lime juice, zest of one lime
- Stir until sugar is fully dissolved and allow to simmer for roughly 10 minutes
- Remove from heat and pour into a jar to cool for at least an hour before using
Dark Cherry Lime GT
- In an old fashioned glass with ice combine lime simple syrup, dark cherry syrup, and gin. Stir for roughly 15 seconds.1.75 oz gin, 2 tbsp lime simple syrup, 1 tbsp dark cherry syrup
- Float club soda over the cocktailclub soda
- Garnish with a dark cherry and servedark cherry
Entrée Pairings for the Dark Cherry Lime GT
- Smoked Whole Chicken – perfect for that winner winner chicken dinner
- Smoky Cheeseburger – hold the pickles hold the lettuce
- Smokey Lime and Cilantro Pork Tenderloin – for your South of the border cravings
