Ginger & Mary Ann Cocktails

After lazing about on a picnic blanket at the lake with one of these devilishly delicious cocktails in my hand, I convinced Guestblogger Eric M to share the recipe with all of us. A special note to those out there not certain they like the "dark" liquors: I am more of a vodka/rum/gin kind of a gal but trust me, this bourbon infused drink is not to be missed. --A Crafty Lass

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale: a tale of a delicious drink.

This tale didn’t start on a desert isle, but rather in the backyard of a friend’s house at a summer party 6 or 7 years ago. My friend, Ben, served delicious cocktails that were perfect for the hot weather: refreshing and light. They were the kind of drink that disappeared from your glass before you knew it. I blamed evaporation as I kept asking for refills.

What appeals to me personally about this drink is that it combines two of my favorite flavors (and I’ll thank everyone to refrain from the obvious joke--I’m more of a Professor fan): ginger and lime. The tartness of the lime is offset by the brightness of the ginger and the sweetness of the ginger ale. It’s great for a (small) party because you can prepare the mix in advance making bartending at the event easy (I emphasize “small” because you have to juice quite a few limes for this drink, so I wouldn’t want to make it for a huge crowd unless you have Popeye forearms).

My version is a variation on Ben’s recipe that substitutes fresh ginger and a less-sweet simple syrup to make for a crisp summer cocktail. I’ve also reduced the amount of alcohol so that you can have two or three of them and still keep up with the witty repartee of your friends.

To send eight people on a 3-hour tour:

• 3 cups Ginger Simple Syrup (recipe below)
• 2 cups Bourbon
• 2.5 cups Lime Juice (about 9 or 10 limes)
• 1 quart Ginger Ale
• Lime slices for garnish

Combine the first three ingredients and refrigerate. To serve, fill a lowball glass with ice. Pour equal parts mix and ginger ale into the glass and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime. This should be enough for 8 people to have 2 to 3 drinks each.

Ginger Simple Syrup

• 3 cups Water
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1.5 cups sliced ginger

Combine ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to make sure all the sugar dissolves. Turn off heat and cover, allowing mixture to steep for 45 minutes. Strain through cheesecloth and let cool before using. I set the bowl of strained syrup inside a larger bowl that was filled with ice to speed the process.