Talk about summer in a glass. This is my all time favorite summer time cocktail! Fresh blueberry jam, (like my home made blueberry freezer jam) mixed with a sweet apple and thyme scented syrup. And bubbles! Now every time I get a whiff of fresh thyme, it instantly makes me crave this drink. This recipe is from Giada De Laurentis:
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups apple-thyme simple syrup, recipe follows
1 cup gin (recommended: Bombay Sapphire)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
Ice
1/4 cup blueberry jam
Club soda, chilled
Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish
Special equipment: a 2 1/2 cup-capacity martini shaker
Directions
In a pitcher, combine the syrup, gin and lemon juice. Refrigerate for 2 hours. To serve, add ice and half of the gin mixture to a martini shaker. Add 2 tablespoons of blueberry jam. Shake well and pour into ice-filled Collins glasses. Add a splash of club soda and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Apple-Thyme Simple Syrup:
20 (4-inch) long sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups 100 percent apple juice (recommended: Martinelli's)
Gently crush the thyme sprigs and put them in a small saucepan. Add the sugar and apple juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 30 minutes. Strain before using.
1 1/3 cups apple-thyme simple syrup, recipe follows
1 cup gin (recommended: Bombay Sapphire)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
Ice
1/4 cup blueberry jam
Club soda, chilled
Fresh thyme sprigs, for garnish
Special equipment: a 2 1/2 cup-capacity martini shaker
Directions
In a pitcher, combine the syrup, gin and lemon juice. Refrigerate for 2 hours. To serve, add ice and half of the gin mixture to a martini shaker. Add 2 tablespoons of blueberry jam. Shake well and pour into ice-filled Collins glasses. Add a splash of club soda and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Apple-Thyme Simple Syrup:
20 (4-inch) long sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups 100 percent apple juice (recommended: Martinelli's)
Gently crush the thyme sprigs and put them in a small saucepan. Add the sugar and apple juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 30 minutes. Strain before using.
This makes enough for 4 servings. Fill your glass with ice and slowly sip in the summer time! Be forewarned, these do not have an alcoholic taste, and they will catch up with you because they go down so easy!! So, in other words, sip slooooowly... Enjoy!!
