In late May, Salute American Vodka held a cocktail competition challenging area bartenders to make a drink that reflected the Salute American patriotic theme. The original creation also had to use the brand’s vodka along with no more than four other ingredients. Walking away the victor – and with a nice $1,000 cash prize – was Andy Brown (pictured) of Lucas Park Grille. We can’t think of a more appropriate time to make Brown’s refreshing cocktail, On Military Thyme, than the Fourth of July holiday.
On Military Thyme
Serves 1
Courtesy of Lucas Park Grille’s Andy Brown
2 oz. Salute American Vodka
1¾ oz. Watermelon-cucumber-mint syrup (recipe follows)
3 dashes orange bitters
4½ oz. ginger ale
Lemon peel, fresh thyme sprig and cucumber wheel, for garnish
Add the vodka, syrup and ginger ale to a Collins glass filled with ice. Pour the entire contents into a Boston shaker, then return them to the glass. Add the bitters to the drink and garnish it with the lemon peel, fresh thyme sprig and cucumber wheel.
Watermelon-cucumber-mint syrup
Makes 8 cups
Use a juicer to juice 4 cups of chopped watermelon and 2 ½ medium-sized peeled cucumbers. Strain the juice, discarding any fibrous matter or seeds, and pour the juice into a large glass jar or pitcher. Add to the jar the leaves from 5 to 6 mint sprigs, ½ to ¾ cup sugar (depending on desired sweetness) and 1 tablespoon honey. Stir contents. Refrigerate 2 hours. Strain out
the mint leaves. Add the juice of one half of a lemon. Syrup will keep refrigerated up to 1 week. (For a nonalcoholic drink, add 2 to 3 tablespoons syrup to a glass filled with ice. Top with soda water.)
This article appears in July 2013.