Strawberry Moon Cocktail
This is one of those cocktails that strikes an ideal balance between taking enough effort to be special, but easy enough that you’d still make it at home on a weeknight. It’s the perfect summer al fresco sip. And it’s never too late to have infused Aperol in your bar’s arsenal—this one, infused with summer’s first strawberries, is as at home in this drink as it is added to a Paloma or a classic Aperol Spritz.
Ingredients
For the Strawberry-infused Aperol:
- 8 fl oz Aperol
- 3 oz fresh strawberries , cored and cut into chunks
For the Strawberry Moon:
- 2 fl oz fresh grapefruit juice
- 1.5 fl oz fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 fl oz simple syrup
- 2.5 fl oz strawberry-infused Aperol
- 3 fl oz gin (We’re obsessed with Astraea’s Meadow Gin right now.)
Instructions
For the Strawberry-infused Aperol:
- Muddle the strawberries in a jar or lidded container, then pour over the Aperol, stirring to incorporate. Then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight to maximize flavor. The infused Aperol will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
For the Strawberry Moon:
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. Serve in a chilled coupe glass, or whatever feels fancy for you! Garnish with your choice of grapefruit peel, fresh mint, or sliced strawberry.
- You can also choose to dry shake this cocktail with an egg white, or a few drops of vegan foamer, then add ice and shake again to make more of a classic gin sour situation. Do what you like! We’re not here to tell you how to live!