Lemongrass & Apple Honey Cooler

Lemongrass Apple Cooler

COCKTAIL OR ALCOHOL-FREE — The Lemongrass Apple Honey Spritz is a super light, refreshing drink. It’s perfect for a thirst quenching cocktail with an apple honey sweetness and subtle flavor of lemongrass.

My apple honey syrup is irresistible and I use it for several cocktails. It combines fresh apple slices, raw honey, and bit of cardamom. Balanced with the ginger beer, this spritz is sweet, crisp, and cool. You can leave out the white rum to enjoy as a mocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Apple Honey Syrup (recipe below)

• 1.5 oz White rum (optional)

• 1/2 oz lime juice

• 1 oz Lemongrass Syrup (recipe below)

• ginger beer

Apple Honey Syrup

• 1-2 medium apples (I like Red Delicious)

• 1 cup water

• 3/4 cup of raw honey

• 1 teaspoon cardamom

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Cut apples into slices leaving out the core and seeds. Add water to a saucepan and bring to a boil.

2. Slowly stir in raw honey, vanilla extract, and cardamom.

3. Stir for 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and let cool. When the syrup is cooled, place in an air tight container and keep in refrigerator. This should last 1-2 weeks.

Lemongrass Syrup

• 4 lemongrass stalks

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup sugar (you can also use 1/2 cup of agave or honey)

1. Remove outer layers of lemongrass stalk. Starting at the white bulb at the bottom, cut through the stalk. The goal is to bruise the lemongrass to release the flavor, so you don’t have to cut all the way through. Once you’ve finished bruising 3 of the stalks, add to boiling water.

2. Add sugar to water and stir for 5-6 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool.

4. Cut the last lemongrass stalk and add to the cooled syrup. Keep refrigerated and infuse for 1-2 days. This is in essence a lemongrass-infused lemongrass syrup. Since lemongrass is a subtle flavor, I like to intensify the flavor as much as I can.

How to make Lemongrass Apple Honey Spritz

1. Combine apple honey syrup, white rum, lime juice, and lemongrass syrup in a shaker with ice.

2. Shake for 15-20 seconds. Pour in Collins glass. Top with ginger beer.

Cheers!