COSTA DEL SOL

COSTA DEL SOL

2 measures white rum

1 measure sweet red vermouth

1 measure sugar syrup

½ measure lemon juice

3 measures soda water

Happy first day of Spring! It got up to an unprecedented 83 degrees in Cleveland today and it felt more like summer. Shorts and sandals were everywhere, and the sun shinned bright for a change.

The sunny weather was a perfect complement to today’s cocktail – the COSTA DEL SOL. The English translation of Costa Del Sol is “coast of the sun” or “sunny coast.” It is the name of a region in southern Spain known as the Spanish Mediterranean. There is also a Costa Del Sol Resort in Mexico, and a line of tanning products named Costa Del Sol. And that was only the first two page results of a Google search. Popular name.

 The delightful COSTA DEL SOL cocktail should be popular as well. No shaker is needed to make it. Just fill a big glass with ice, then add the first four ingredients. Give it a stir, then add the soda water. Don’t stir it any more or it will lose its fizz. Garnish with a lemon, lime, orange or cherry, and drink in the sunshine. You’ll find it to be light, pleasing and just a hint of sweet. It would be a good cocktail for by the beach or pool. And unlike many of those overly fruity drinks that make you feel ill later, the COSTA DEL SOL mixes the rum flavor with citrus in addition to sugar. It’s different, but still very good. Made my smile bloom.

Drink Up^

Cocktail Connie