Oh sweet juniper, summer fun is almost upon us! This is the time of year I tuck away the red wine and start making sure the ice is always fresh. Warm weather makes me want gin. Sure, I also want to get pedicures and wear kicky wedge sandals and sundresses and feel the weight of high thread count sheets on my bare skin. And I want to eat a real tomato. The dawn of summer brings so much to mind.
I have visions of Mac Daddy and I sitting on the front porch on a summer’s evening with the ceiling fans humming and the dog lounging lazily at my feet. We rock and sip, rock and sip. Such is our rock n roll life.
What happens in reality is that it’s too bloody humid to sit outside on most any summer night in North Carolina, the porch fans are more white noise than cool air, mosquitoes hum louder than the fan, the dog is panting from near heat stroke, moths are attacking the porch lights, the rocking chairs are terribly uncomfortable and are clearly more for looks than function, and the ice melts so quickly in my drink that it gets watered down like a toddler’s sippee cup of apple juice.
I shall direct my daydream indoors and sip in the comfort of my own cool home. Maybe I’ll turn on some Eye of the Tiger to add that missing rock element.
Summer’s Daydream
2 ounces Hendrick’s Gin
handful of fresh mint
3 slices of cucumber
seltzer water
With a wooden spoon, muddle the mint and cucumber in a rocks glass. Add ice and gin. Top with a splash of seltzer water. Give it a stir. Get comfy. Sip. Enjoy the modern day marvel of air conditioning.