Cooking Lesson #1052: Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka Cocktail

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Fans of classic frozen drinks from the Piña Colada to my Frozen Margarita will love this vodka-based, summer-ready cocktail. While most frozen cocktails call for regular ice cubes to give them their signature slushy consistency, you'll want to use flavored ice cubes made with frozen ginger syrup for my Icy Lemon-Ginger Vodka cocktail. After making this cocktail you might make more frozen cocktails made with flavored ice!
 
Making and freezing ginger syrup might seem like a pain in the ass, but doing so adds a slightly spicy, sweet flavor to an otherwise predictable vodka slushie. You’ll maximize the tart, fresh citrus flavor by using lemon zest as well freshly squeezed lemon juice, both of which accentuate the herbaceous, bright notes from the mint sprig garnish.
 
Not a vodka drinker? Try it with gin—Hendricks is my go-to gin. If you’re just looking for a slightly more complex version of this summer-ready cocktail, swap out the vodka with gin which will add juniper, pine and spruce notes to step each sip up a notch.
 
Prep time:  4 hours
Cook Time:  20 minutes
Yield:  8 cocktails
 
Ingredients 
1 (3-inch piece) of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups water
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
8 cups crushed flavored ice
2 cups vodka
8 mint sprigs, for garnish 

Directions

1. To make the ginger infused syrup, in a small saucepan, combine the sliced ginger with the water and sugar and bring to a simmer over moderate heat.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes, then let the ginger syrup cool slightly.
3. Transfer to a blender and puree.
4. Strain the syrup into a large, shallow glass dish or ice cube tray. Stir in the lemon zest and juice.
5. Cover and freeze the lemon-ginger syrup until firm, at least 4 hours.
6. When ready to make the cocktails, pull the frozen lemon-ginger mixture from the freezer and let it stand at room temperature for 5 minutes.
7. Break up the mixture into large pieces.
8. Put half of the pieces in a blender, add 4 cups of crushed ice and 1 cup of vodka and blend until slushy.
9. Pour the vodka cocktail into 4 glasses, garnish each with a mint sprig and serve.
10. Repeat with the remaining frozen lemon mixture, ice, vodka and mint sprigs. Serve immediately.

ChefSecret:  You’re going to have to peel the ginger—no big deal.  Simply peel the ginger's thin and delicate skin by scraping down the root with a metal teaspoon. It makes it easier maneuvering around the nubs than trying to use a paring knife or vegetable peeler. You can get ready for this party drink a week in advance. The lemon-ginger mixture for this cocktail can be frozen for up to 10 days.

Quip of the Day:  When we were younger my buddies and I would compare cars, liquor and women. Now we just compare statins.
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