Quick Guide to Summer Drinks. It’s Thyme.

Anyone been looking for summer drinks? My preference is a drink that can be non-alcoholic on its own and spiked for those who want it.

I follow some fun steps to make myself the perfect mojito – and if you don’t want the liquor, well, this has you covered. I’ve learned that making some of the staple ingredients of crafted cocktails – whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic is a time saver that gets me to relaxation time faster. This isn’t just for parties, this is for something refreshing in the afternoon, something for yourself in a quiet moment, something to savor.

 

You need:

Mint – Rosemary – Thyme      one or all!

Limes – buy these in bulk if you can

Sugar (I used sugar in the raw)

water

Saucepan

Jars or sealable containers to be kept in the frig

 

1.Make your simple syrup ahead of time:

1 cup of water to 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan. Heat on medium heat until the ingredients dissolve.

The mixture will thicken slightly, but this is the time to add the flavor! Stick in sprigs of thyme, maybe 4-5 sticks. Or throw in a bunch of mint:

Stir, and then turn off the heat. Let this sit for a while to really get the herbs steeped in that sweet liquid. We’re making dreams here, people.

 

 

When the mixture has cooled, I’m talking at least an hour to be safe, carefully pour it into containers that can be kept in the frig. If your pan is still hot, do not pour it! Sugar is especially a burner.

My simple syrup mixture is usually dark due to using turbinado or sugar in the raw versus granulated sugar.

See that golden color? And it smells SO minty fresh.

2. Next, squeeze the crap out of a bunch of limes. I’m serious here. I probably (sweetly asked my husband to do) used about 10 or more limes. Buy ’em in bulk. It saves so much time and money to have it at the ready. There is no substitute for real lemon or real lime juice.

So now I’ve got my two main ingredients to begin:

 

Here’s a pic with the flash so you can see how rich the color is on the simple syrup, and how fresh lime juice actually looks:

Now, I would add 1-3 tablespoons of each of these to any refreshment. And I did.

 

I muddled my mint like a pro. Pro-ish.

My drink of choice: mojito. Sub in lemon-lime soda or lemon-lime seltzer for the rum if you don’t want it. Either way, you CANNOT leave here today without trying this.

 

Some combos recently:

• 1-2 cups peach tea, 2 tablespoons mint simple syrup, 1 tablespoon lime juice for zing – pour over ice and serve
• 1-2 cups lemon lime soda/seltzer (saves calories), 2 tablespoons simple syrup, 2 tablespoons lime juice – pour over ice and serve
• Mojito twist: watermelon juice (had too much watermelon), 2 tablespoons thyme simple syrup, shot of clear rum, muddled mint, 2 tablespoons lime juice – make in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice to serve.

I’m DYING to try pineapple and rosemary in some way. Have you? Tell me below!

Fruit + Herb Combos to try:

Watermelon + thyme simple syrup (Check out my Instagram for evidence!!

Watermelon + mint simple syrup

Pineapple + mint simple syrup

Pineappe + rosemary simple syrup

Peach + rosemary simple syrup

 

Let me know what you think!