Oh, Snap!

OK, friends. It's been seven whole days since I last wrote of a beverage AND this turns out to be my 50th post! Par-tay! To celebrate that, and just cuz, I concocted a new drink. This one came to me as a result of discovering Green Apple Italian Soda at Whole Foods. OK not "discovered" in a Christopher Columbus kind of way, more like "saw for the first time." And, actually, it wasn't AT Whole Foods but at work. But it is for sale at Whole Foods.

Originally I made the drink using vodka, but the results were too reminiscent of a Jolly Rancher or Blow Pop (not in a good way), so I had to scratch that. Once I tried Cognac, a completely new drink was born. I sort of wonder if the apple/Cognac combo makes it more of a fall drink, but I think the flavors are actually quite bright and summery, in a Dark & Stormy kind of way. Cheers!

Green Apple Snap

2 ounces Cognac (or brandy)

1 ounce ginger simple syrup*

1 ounce fresh lime juice

4 ounces green apple Italian soda

Granny Smith apple, very thinly sliced (for garnish)

1. Fill a double old-fashioned glass with ice. Add the Cognac, simple syrup, lime juice and soda. Stir and garnish with a slice of apple. Serve. Makes one drink.

*To make the ginger syrup: Bring 1 cup of water and 3/4 cup sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger and set aside for at least 30 minutes, or up to one hour. Strain into an airtight container. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.