The calendar may say the start of fall is a few days away, but it still feels like summer here in Florida. And although I'm usually chomping at the bit for fall festivities, this year I find myself not quite ready to say goodbye to summer. Maybe it's because this year it seemed to fly by all too quickly and I'm not sure I took advantage as much as a could have of my favorite summer-y activities – most of which involve sitting on a back porch somewhere with a rosé cocktail.
Cue the fraisé fizz cocktail. Not to be confused with frozé, the fraisé fizz combines fresh strawberries (ou fraises) and a crisp rosé with floral Pimm's and dry gin. The result is a bright, slightly sweet and a little tart, refreshing concoction. What better way to toast the end of summer?
Ingredients:
2-3 fresh strawberries, plus extra for garnish
1 lemon
Crushed ice
1 tablespoon strawberry syrup (I used Blackberry Patch, but any brand or homemade will do)
4 ounces dry rosé
1 ounce Pimm’s
1 ounce dry British gin, such as Boodles
Sparkling water
1 orange twist
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle the strawberries and a squeeze of lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice and add the strawberry syrup, rosé, Pimm's and gin. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with sparking water. Pinch the orange twist over the drink, add it to the glass and garnish with half a strawberry.