I mean shoes off, feet up, summer breeze blowing in your hair. Are you with me? This light and fruity sipper is gentle enough for brunch. It’s perfect to share with friends. Pretty enough for the front porch yet begs for the backyard!

Use your favorite fruits of the season with a bottle of nice crispy white wine. Adding a few other flavor enhancers like vodka, simple syrup, and a sprig or two of lemony thyme (or your favorite fresh herb) add complexity.

Fresh strawberries, peaches, cherries, pineapple, and lemon get a little tipsy in a nice soak of chilled vodka, white wine and a splash of simple syrup.

If you can give the fruit at least two hours your Summer Thyme Sangria will will take on the beautiful fruit flavors. You can use any combination of berries and stone fruit that you love.

Step 1

Our summer sangria begins with a simple syrup. You combine equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, then whisk to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool before using.

Simple syrups are another wonderful way to infuse layers of flavor. Just add herbs, aromatics, fruit or even spices to the sugar water while boiling. I’ve made vanilla, cranberry, ginger, and brown sugar.

Step 2

Once your fruit has had time to hang out and chill with the white wine and vodka, it’s ready to serve. This white sangria is so smooth and delicious! It’s the perfect pool-side sipper, backyard bbq batch-cocktail, and weekend brunch beverage.

Step 3

Don’t forget to put out a few finger foods. Our Roasted Golden Beet Hummus with Flatbread Crackers were the perfect pre-dinner nibbles.

How do you ease into the weekend? Favorite summer cocktails and mocktails? I’d love for you to comment below. Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Summer Thyme Sangria

Summer Thyme Sangria is so smooth and delicious! It's the perfect pool-side sipper, backyard bbq batch-cocktail, and weekend brunch beverage.

Course Cocktail

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time 2 hours hours

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 lemon thinly sliced
• 1 peach sliced
• 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
• 1 cup fresh cherries pitted and sliced
• 1/4 cup simple syrup more or less to taste
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1 750 ml bottle white wine
• fresh lemony thyme sprigs optional garnish

Instructions

• Prepare simple syrup by combining equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisk to dissolve sugar. Cool before using.
• Combine all recipe ingredients in a pitcher and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Serve chilled with lemony thyme sprigs (optional).

The post Summer Thyme Sangria Will Ease You Right Into the Weekend! appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

We recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Chattanooga, TN.

What a fantastic town!

Straddling the Tennessee River with sweeping views, Chattanooga has the right mix of adventure, culture, good eats (and drinks), nightlife, history, and natural beauty (aka sunrises that are worth getting up for).

Did I mention that Chattanooga has one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges, placed precisely between the early-morning sunrises and end-of-day sunsets.

You all know I’m a sucker for fresh herbs. So when fresh basil is muddled with cucumber…my hand is raised high.

This cocktail has the right combination of fresh bright flavors.

When it comes to describing these two liquors, who better than the brands themselves.

“Meet the delightfully peculiar Hendrick’s Gin – a most unusual premium gin distilled in Scotland with curious, yet marvellous, infusions of cucumber & rose.”

Paired with “St-Germain, the new elderflower liqueur created in the artisanal French manner from freshly-picked hand-picked elderflower blossoms.”

Now add freshly muddled cucumber and basil leaves, a touch of simple syrup, a squeeze of fresh lemon & lime juice – shaken with ice and strained into a chilled martini glass.

This Cucumber Basil Martini is Summer Thyme Sipping perfection!

Cheers to the weekend!

And to a time when we can all move freely about the country!!

Until then, I’ve shared a couple extra pics from Chattanooga below.

Don’t forget to follow us @LemonyThyme on Instagram and Facebook! And check out our latest TikTok videos and Pinterest boards too!

All my best,
xo Libby

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Cucumber Basil Martini

You all know I'm a sucker for fresh herbs, so when fresh basil is muddled with cucumber my hand is raised high.

Course Drinks

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 3-4 slices cucumber skin on is fine
• 3-4 fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce St-Germain Liqueur
• 2 ounces Hendrick's Gin
• 1 squeeze fresh lemon juice about 1/2 ounce
• 1 squeeze fresh lime juice about 1/2 ounce
• ice to shake
• fresh basil and cucumber to garnish

Instructions

• Chill cocktail/martini glass. Muddle the cucumber and fresh basil in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and ice. Shake until well chilled. Pour through a fine strainer into cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin slice of cucumber and piece of fresh basil. Enjoy!

The post Cucumber Basil Martini appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita.

One of my friends posted pictures on facebook yesterday of the margaritas she and her significant other were enjoying at a local cantina.  Robin had a sweet looking Watermelon Margarita and Tim had a fiery Jalapeño Margarita.  Instantly I craved a margarita.  A blended margarita.

I know from making Rosemary Watermelon Juice, that a single watermelon, even a baby like this one, will yield a good bit of juice.  So find a friend and get ready to enjoy a refreshing take on a classic cocktail.

I also know from making Jalapeño Infused Margaritas, that it doesn’t take long to infuse a nice peppery flavor into tequila.  For this recipe I simply sliced a jalapeño and dropped it into a jar with about 4 ounces of tequila.  Within an hour you’ll have nicely infused jalapeño flavor.

First sip reaction.  Wow, surprisingly good.  Sweet.  Heat.  Salty rim.  Jalapeño & Watermelon Margaritas I like you.

Shout out to Robin for the inspiration, on this day and each day.  I think this cocktail is a lot like her.  She’s definitely a sweetheart, with great positive energy.  Yet she also has an addicting ‘weird’ sense of humor that I totally get (and look forward to daily).  And lastly, she knows how to make you feel special, in a kind of warm & fuzzy way…much like a well crafted cocktail.  xo Robin.  Keep the inspiration alive.

Recipe Note: you can make a ‘simple’ simple syrup in the microwave.  Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water.  Microwave for 2 minutes until sugar is dissolved.  Chill.

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Jalapeño & Watermelon Margarita

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 4 ounces tequila
• 1 jalapeno thinly sliced
• 5 cups watermelon chunks
• 2 limes
• 2-3 Tbl. simple syrup to taste
• 2 ounces Grand Marnier
• watermelon wedges lime slices, jalapeno slices for garnish
• coarse kosher salt for rim optional

Instructions

• Combine tequila with sliced jalapeno in a jar. Refrigerate for an hour or so.
• In a blender combine watermelon chunks, lime juice and simple syrup. Blend until liquefied.
• In a shaker of ice, add 2 ounces jalapeno infused tequila, 1 ounce Grand Marnier, 1 cup watermelon juice. Shake until well chilled.
• Spread 2-3 Tablespoons salt on plate. Rub lime wedge on rim of glass, then dip into salt. Pour chilled margarita into ice filled glass. Garnish with watermelon wedge, lime & jalapeno slice. Enjoy!

The post Jalapeño & Watermelon Margarita appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

I think tonight is a great night for a Classic Mojito.  I believe we’ve got a touch of Indian Summer breaking through what has been a crazy week of weather and my fresh mint is still thriving in it’s own private garden.  I had my first Mojito several years ago while vacationing in Puerto Rico.  Already a rum lover….I was quickly hooked.  I’ve since made Keylime Mojitos, Strawberry Mojitos, and still my favorite The Classic Mojito.

All really good Mojitos have a dash of simple syrup.  For a Classic Mojito, we begin with one cup of water and one cup of sugar in a small sauce pan.  Bring the sugar water to a boil, then remove from the heat.  Add in 3-4 mint sprigs and allow the mixture to steep for an hour or so, then chill completely before using.  If I’m making Strawberry Mojitos, I slice strawberries then sprinkle them generously with sugar and a splash of juice (any kind); cover them and refrigerate for an hour or two….voila strawberry simple syrup.

In a shaker or tall glass, add a handful of mint leaves, 2 lime wedges, and a little simple syrup.  Using a muddler, mash the mint and lime to release their flavors.  Then add ice cubes and a shot of rum and shake well.  Pour into a tall glass and top with a splash of club soda (or as I prefer Sprite Zero).  Stir and let the Mojito happen.  Take a sip…you’ll slowly begin to feel that bomba beat.  Love The Mojito!!

The post The Classic Mojito {TGIF} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.