The Strawberry Picking 75 Cocktail
A sweet, tart, and slightly sparkling cocktail made with strawberry syrup, black pepper, gin, and prosecco rose. The below recipe includes a pitcher and mocktail variation.
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If you love a French75, you’re going to love this summer themed twist. The fresh strawberry syrup tastes exactly like the strawberry candy you used to love as a kid, except not artificial. The herbal notes of the gin are complimented by the acidity of the lime juice, and a little kick from the black peppercorn. Topped with pink bubbles to make it feel like summertime on the porch, this is the drink that will make you feel like you’re really enjoying summer. The longer the black pepper is in the drink, the stronger it gets, which I personally love. My favorite gin is Gray Whale Gin is naturally made from almonds, limes, and juniper, and sea kelp sourced from all around California in places that I’ve lived and visited. That being said, the best gin is anyone you like and already have in your liquor cabinet!
This is apart of my First Impressions series where I make a monthly cocktail and appetizer pairing that has one or two ingredients in both the cocktail and the appetizer, and this month the star ingredients were black pepper and strawberries inspired by the strawberry black pepper jam from Trader Joe’s they sold during the holidays last year.
When I first made it for the video, I chose basil as garnish. When I made it for the second time, I chose a strawberry as garnish because I felt like it better communicated what the drink was all about.
Strawberry Syrup - Makes about 14 oz syrup
2 cups Strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
Directions: Add strawberries (no need to remove the green parts), sugar, and water to a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Once boiling reduce to low, and use a masher to help break apart the strawberries. Stir occasionally, and cook for ten minutes until the strawberries have fully broken apart. Keep an eye on the pan because the syrup can bubble over. Place a fine mesh strainer over a 2 cup glass measuring cup or bowl, and pour the mixture into the strainer. Use the back of a rubber spatula to press the strawberries to get as much syrup out as possible. Discard the pulp (or maybe save it to top ice cream), and repeat until you have collected all of the syrup. You will probably have to do this in 3-4 batches. Let cool to room temperature and pour into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Strawberry Picking 75 Cocktail
Ingredients - Serves 2
Juice of 1 Lime, or 1 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Strawberry Syrup (recipe follows)
2.5 oz Gin
6 oz Prosecco Rose
2 Large Whiskey Cubes
2 whiskey glasses, chilled in the freezer
A few twists of freshly cracked Black Pepper
Garnish: Sprig of basil or fresh strawberry
Method: Add lime juice, strawberry syrup, gin, and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously. Pour over two glasses with large whiskey cubes. Top with 3 oz each of sparkling rose, crushed black pepper, and garnish with basil and a fresh strawberry.
Pitcher Recipe Version (makes enough for 8)
Ingredients
½ cup lime juice
2 1/2 cups Gin
1 cup Strawberry Syrup
1 bottle Prosecco Rose
½ Tsp Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
Stir lime juice, Gin, strawberry syrup, and Prosecco Rose to combine. Taste and adust. If too sweet, add more lime juice. If too tart, add more syrup. If not strong enough, add more gin. Make up to 1 hour in advance, and store in fridge until ready to serve. Pour over large whiskey ice cube, sprinkle with smashed black pepper, and garnish with basil sprig and fresh strawberry
Mocktail version - Makes 1 drink
Ingredients
6 oz Lime Soda Water
1 oz Strawberry Syrup
Juice of 1 lime
A few twists of freshly cracked Black Pepper
1 frozen Jalapeno (optional)
Garnish: Basil Sprig and fresh strawberry
Pour ingredients over a large whiskey ice cube, and use a microplane zester to zest some (about 1 tsp) frozen Jalapeno into it. The spice mimics the kick of the gin. Stir everything together, and garnish. Serve immediately.
The Strawberry Picking 75
A sweet, tart, and slightly sparkling cocktail made with strawberry syrup, black pepper, gin, and sparkling pink prosecco. The below recipe includes a pitcher and mocktail variation.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add strawberries (no need to remove the green part), sugar, and water to a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
- Once boiling reduce to low, and use a masher to help break apart the strawberries.
- Stir occasionally, and cook for ten minutes until the strawberries have fully broken apart. Keep an eye on the pan because the syrup can bubble over.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a 2 cup glass measuring cup or bowl, and pour the mixture into the strainer. Use the back of a rubber spatula to press the strawberries to get as much syrup out as possible.
- Discard the pulp (or maybe save it to top ice cream), and repeat until you have collected all of the syrup. You will probably have to do this in 3-4 batches.
- Let cool to room temperature and pour into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- Add lime juice, strawberry syrup, gin, and a handful of ice to a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously.
- Pour over two glasses with large whiskey cubes. Top with 3 oz each of prosecco rose, a few twists of freshly cracked black pepper, and garnish with basil and/or a fresh strawberry. I like to give it a stir with a spoon so everything mixes.
