Shu Jam Fizz Food

SHU JAM FIZZ

Steps:

• Rinse a Collins glass by swirling absinthe inside it, just enough to coat the sides; discard excess. Combine gin, jam, fennel syrup, lemon juice and bitters in a shaker with ice, and shake. Add ice to the prepared glass, and into that strain the contents of the shaker. Top with the soda, and serve.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO MOJITONICO

Steps:

• Rim a 16-ounce glass by moistening the edge with a lime wedge, then dipping the glass into a small plate filled with equal parts salt and pepper. Into the same glass add the tomatoes, herbs and lime sections, then muddle, gently, until the mixture is equal parts juice and solids. Add ice, stir, then add the gin, and stir again. Top with the tonic water.

LAZY MADAME

Steps:

• Combine liquid ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with lemon twist.

THE DIRTIEST MARTINI

Steps:

• Shake the liquid ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with the olive skewer and basil leaf. *To infuse the vodka, place 10 basil leaves in a 750-ml bottle of organic vodka (Rain vodka, distilled in Kentucky from organic corn, is a good choice) for two hours. Be careful not to overinfuse. You want a mild flavor and fragrance, not basil cologne.

CUCUMBER COLLINS

Steps:

• In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle cucumber slices, lemon juice and simple syrup. Add gin, along with ice, and shake. Strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass, then top with soda. Garnish with the mint sprig.