Thirsty Thursdays: West Side Edition

Today, I'm a Diva on a mission; determined to prove, if only to myself, that I can make a luscious, refreshing cocktail and not have it turn out ... pink.

Not that there's anything wrong with pretty pink potables, mind you, but variety is the spice of life and I aim to please.

I've also got a ton of fresh mint and an absurd amount of lemons in my fridge. Naturally, that combination puts me in mind of the South Side, a classic cocktail of Chicago-themed lore. I made a batch of mint infused lemonade and used that as the base.

Minted Lemonade:

• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 3 strips of fresh lemon peel
  
• 7 large springs of mint
• 6 large lemons
• 5 cups of water
  

Combine the sugar, water, lemon peel and mint in a small sauce pan. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring well until the sugar dissolves. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool.

Juice the lemons into a large pitcher - no seeds please, so use a strainer. Add the water and stir to combine. Strain the syrup mixture and add it to the pitcher, stirring well to combine. Serve as is, or use it to form ...

The West Side Cocktail:

• 1/2 cup of minted lemonade
• 6 large mint leaves
• 2 oz. of good quality gin
  
• 3 drops of orange bitters

• some plain selzter for topping up, if desired
• a sprig of mint and a slice of orange or lemon for garnish

Combine the lemonade and mint leaves in the bottom of a martini shaker and muddle with a muddling tool (seen in photos) or a wooden spoon until the mint is crushed and fragrant. Place some ice into the shaker and add 2 oz. of gin and 3 drops of orange bitters. Shake well, until the outside of the shaker has frosted, and strain into an ice filled tumbler. If desired, you may top up the drink with a bit of plain seltzer - or serve as is, garnished with a sprig of mint and a slice of orange or lemon. Serve and enjoy, repeat as necessary!

As written this recipe will make one cocktail ... and its a beauty! Light, refreshing, slightly astringent - but not overly so - and altogether delicious. If you want to kick it hard-core, you could certainly skip the ice and seltzer and serve it straight up as a martini. Either way it goes down smooth and look ...

... its not the least bit pink!

This is my version of the classic, named for my 'hood, and I'm well-pleased with it. If you're feeling lazy, by all means go ahead and use some prepared lemonade. If you're feeling abstemious, go right ahead and serve the lemonade without the booze. Its all good and all delicious, I promise.

Bon appetit!