We have a few rosemary bushes on the side yard, they are fragrant, overgrown and in need of attention. As I stood next to the unseemly bushes, clippers in hand, I remembered I needed to create a drink to mark my upcoming birthday – I decided to use rosemary!
Unfortunately, my need of rosemary in cooking didn’t make a visible difference in the tidying of my yard, and the creation of The Fifty-Nine became my new distraction.
Simple Syrup. 2 to 1. Two parts sugar, 1 part water. Bring it to a boil stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves, is a traditional recipe for simple syrup.
Instead of plain water, I made a “tea” with the rosemary. After cleaning, remove the leaves from 10 or 15 stems, drop them into a pot of water to boil. Once boiled, let it steep for about 10 minutes. Using a strainer to remove the leaves, measure out a cup of this “tea”. Add one cup of white sugar and one cup of brown sugar to the cup of Rosemary Tea to a pot over medium heat. Once the liquid boils and the sugar dissolves, you have Rosemary Simple Syrup. I also dropped in a few more fresh stems of rosemary to the pot for added flavor.
The 59.
1/2 oz. Rosemary Simple Syrup
1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz. lemon-lime juice
Over ice cubes in shaker, shake well. Strain into cocktail glass. Top with 1-2 ounces of Prosecco. Garnish with lemon or lime peel and a sprig of rosemary.
Variations: a) Substitute vodka with gin. b) Substitute Prosecco with sparkling water.
Serve in a chilled glass or on the rocks.
Happy Birthday!
Squeeze the juice from several lemons and strain the pulp and seeds. Place equal parts juice and sugar (raw works very well) in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Once boiled, reduce heat to low. Stir occasionally, so not to burn, for 5-10 minutes. Liquid should reduce and thicken slightly.
The White Pot 