Summer Solstice Collins

Summer Solstice Collins

The Summer Solstice marks the onset of summer, at the time of the longest day, this year on June 21 in the northern hemisphere. Even though the feeling of summer has already been present across the US for several weeks (with some really unusual cold stuff going on though) it doesn’t really start until Saturday morning and I think it’s worth celebrating. This Summer Solstice Collins seems a most appropriate way to mark this auspicious occasion!

For this cocktail it seemed most appropriate to use the Reyka Vodka that I have in my stash that is made in Iceland.The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, when the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Around the summer solstice the sun is visible for the full 24 hours given fair weather. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases the farther towards either pole one goes.

There are no permanent human settlements south of the Antarctic Circle, so the countries and territories whose populations experience it are limited to those crossed by the Arctic Circle, i.e. Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), Greenland, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Alaska in the United States and Iceland. Celebrating the Summer Solstice is cause for celebration in Iceland and there is even a ‘Secret’ Summer Solstice Festival which isn’t’ really all that secret if you’re interested in heading up that way. Report back OK?

As the first vodka to be distilled and bottled in Iceland, the makers of Reyka have created their ideal vodka using the country’s pristine resources. Not only is this barley and wheat vodka clean, but it also comes with an air of prestige attached to it due to the distillers behind it, William Grant & Sons (makers of Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Hendrick’s Gin) and Master Distiller, Kristman Olafsson. These masters of spirits have designed the distillation perfectly to fill a need for a purer and more responsible production and, as Olafsson puts it, a “uniquely Icelandic” vodka. It’s impressively priced and I think the perfect mixer for cocktails; it’s one of my favorites.

This cocktail is a take on a Tom Collins but with a twist. Instead of gin I’ve used vodka and added some blood orange liqueur to the mix. A bit more lemon seals the deal and the result is a light, crisp and altogether refreshing cocktail for summer or in this case, summer solstice!

Summer Solstice Collins

Ingredients

Preparation

Combine vodka, blood orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and thyme sprig in cocktail shaker, fill with ice. Shake firmly 10-12 times and strain over ice filled glass.

Top with club soda and garnish with additional thyme sprig.

Notes

To make simple syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water over medium heat just until water starts to boil and sugar is dissolved. Cool before using.

2.5

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