In the Nordics it’s now strawberry season. In case you don’t know these are, by some considerable margin, the best strawberries in the world. There’s something about the colder climate and less intense sun (but longer days) that makes the berries mature for a longer time. When they’re ripe they’re sweeter and more flavorful than any other strawberries.
Except for eating these fresh in a cake or straight with milk or cream the most classic use is to preserve them by making jam or syrup since the season is short. The syrup is usually used to make a strawberry juice drink similar to lemonade (“jordgubbssaft” in Swedish or “jordbærsaft” in Norwegian). The gap from child drinks to grown up drinks isn’t that great so that led me thinking about how a few classic cocktails would taste with a touch of red summer love.
The Strawberry Gin Fizz becomes a grown up version of the home made softdrinks I used to make as a child by mixing the strawberry syrup with soda water. It’s quite focused and intense from the gin but is lightened up by the bubbles. It’s a little tart as well but comes together nicely and the strawberry undertones compliments the drink well. I can really imagine myself sitting with this one under a tree eating cinnamon buns in the afternoon.
Next drink up is a spin on the Cosmopolitan 1934 using strawberry syrup instead of raspberry syrup. In the end it’s basically a Gin Fizz without the soda and egg white with a little different ratios. This one worked better than I thought, similar in feeling to the Strawberry Gin Fizz but even more focused and, dare I say it, even sophisticated. The strawberries are present but not overwhelming and just brings something a little more interesting than the original. This one is clearly a night time drink.
For something different I modified the Daiquiri to make a non-fronzen strawberry Daiquiri. I figured that rich and sweet Marsala would work great with the strawberries, sort of like how balsamico pairs with strawberries. It also slightly resembles aged rum so my reasoning was that it would work with that as well. The result is a much more laid back cocktail than the other two, totally harmonious and very enjoyable. It’s round with a slight fruity kick that marries very well. On the palate it’s a bit sweeter than the other two and almost too easy to drink, this is the perfect cooler by the pool or the one for after beach parties, except for the fact that you’d be very drunk very quick if given free access to it.
I’m not so sure that any of these will make it into history as great cocktails, but they do work and give something extra, either during summer or as a way to remember the summer during the dark months.
Simple Strawberry Syrup
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Strawberry Gin Fizz
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Strawberry Cosmopolitan 1934
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Non-frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
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