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X-Planations: Peter X. Kelly Creates The Perfect Summer Cocktail

YONKERS, N.Y. -- If there's a better way to celebrate a summer evening than with the perfect summer cocktail I don’t know it.

Cherry Slove cocktail.

Cherry Slove cocktail.

Photo Credit: Submitted

With summer in full swing, I love to shake up the perfect libation by combining summer fruit served in a tall glass with adult elixers and a refreshing splash of soda. This cocktail not only cools the body but relaxes the mind (bonus points if you use local Hudson Valley fruit!). 

For me, the ideal libation begins with vodka --  my Slovenia Vodka, of course.

Slovenia Vodka is distilled five times for incredible smoothness. We use water from the Julienne Alps, Europe’s most pristine water source. The vodka is made with a hint of buckwheat which gives it richness on the palette. 

Making a great cocktail is like baking a cake; you need to measure correctly and use the best ingredients possible (hence, my shameless promotion). My recipe for Cherry Slove follows.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounce Slovenia Vodka • 1 ounce St. Germain liqueur • 3 thin lemon slices •  6-8 pitted fresh cherries • ½ ounce Grenadine • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice •  Club Soda

Method:

Mash cherries and lemon to extract juice in bottom of glass shaker; add vodka, St. Germain, grenadine and lemon juice; fill metal shaker with ice; shake over ice; pour iced mixture into highball or hurricane glass; top with club soda. Enjoy on your summer deck, the beach, your pool, anywhere alfresco!

This column is a continuing series by Chef Peter X. Kelly of Xaviars Restaurant Group which runs every Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

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