Red Light District Lemonade Recipe
Vodka, Strawberry, Lemon
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Garnish
Method
Make Strawberry Syrup (if not using store-bought)
Cook syrup
Hull and quarter 4 medium strawberries (reserve 1 for garnish). In a small saucepan combine the strawberries with 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and cook 6–8 minutes until strawberries have broken down and sugar has dissolved.
Strain and cool
Remove from heat, mash solids lightly with a spoon, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a jar, pressing solids to extract liquid. Discard solids. Cool syrup to room temperature (about 15–20 minutes). This yields roughly 3/4–1 cup strawberry syrup; use 1 oz for the cocktail and refrigerate remainder up to 2 weeks.
Build Cocktail
Fill a shaker with 1 cup ice.
Add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 oz strawberry syrup and 1/2 oz simple syrup to the shaker.
Put the shaker lid on and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled (shaker will feel cold).
Fill a highball or Collins glass with fresh ice to the top.
Strain the shaken mixture into the prepared glass over the fresh ice.
Top with 2 oz club soda and give the drink one gentle stir to integrate.
Garnish & Serve
Slice the reserved fresh strawberry thinly and fan a few slices on top or thread one onto a cocktail pick.
Add a lemon wheel on the rim and tuck 3 mint leaves beside it (if using).
Serve immediately with a straw or stirrer.