Saturday, March 21, 2015

It's Noon Somewhere….Meyer Lemon Rum Sour




It may be the first days of spring but winter citrus is insane right now and if you aren't using it in your cocktails, you are missing out.  Honestly, you can get Meyer Lemons all year round, but they are best and most cost effective in the winter.  Meyer Lemons are the sweet and tart love child of lemons and oranges and are amazing for cooking.  But lets be honest, they are better for cocktails.  Much better.

As long time readers may know (hahahahahaha, yes, I have been delinquent with this blog, so thanks Dad for sticking with me!) I love rum and one of the first cocktails I ever featured on this blog was a rum sour.  There are multiple reasons I have given up on my beloved rum sour, at least one of them being that I no longer can stand the taste of bottled sour mix.  The other being an unfortunate night playing the Pitch Perfect Drinking Game on Lopez with my family.  But I digress, the point is, that a sour can still be a delicious cocktail, you just need to use citrus and simple syrup instead.

You can make simple syrup lots of different ways.  Depending on the ratio, you can have a thicker or a thinner syrup.  I like two parts water to one part sugar because I don't like it too thick.  All you do is boil it until the sugar dissolves.  I keep a jar on hand at all times.  You can also infuse it with herbs or citrus or just about anything to make a flavored simple syrup.  Actually Meyer lemon rind would be great in this simple syrup to pump up that lemon flavor even more

For this particular cocktail, I use golden rum or spiced rum and mix it with Meyer Lemon and simple syrup.  Plus a splash of Cointreau or Triple Sec or my new favorite orange liquor, Patron Citronage orange liqueur.  Its simple but delicious.  And fleeting, which makes it taste even better.

Meyer Rum Sour

2 oz Golden Rum
Juice of 2 Meyer Lemons
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
Splash of Orange Liquer (I use the good stuff!)

Shake vigorously in your favorite shaker.  Unlike most sours I enjoy this up!  Garnishing is optional but strongly recommended with some of that gorgeous Meyer Lemon rind.

Julie