Sapphire magazine Summer quaffs

Strawberries are more than just fruit—they’re a sweet, edible sign that spring has turned into summer. The juicy red berries make a dry piece of shortcake memorable and are delectable enough to eat plain or with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. They can also be used in a range of delicious and refreshing drinks.
While frozen berries are available year round and make a perfectly respectable cocktail (Daiquiri anyone?), like peaches and tomatoes, strawberries are at their best during summer when they’re in season. They’re also quite versatile and work with many spirits and mixers. Strawberries pair perfectly with bubbly and they shine with rum, vodka and gin, like in the tasty Balsamic Berry made at San Francisco bar Mr. Smith’s, which calls for fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, balsamic vinegar. The fruit even works well with brown spirits, like in the signature cocktail at New York City bar Ward III, which combines fresh strawberries and bourbon.
So the next time you pick up some fresh strawberries, forget about making dessert and start mixing up some cocktails instead

Balsamic Berry
INGREDIENTS:
3 Strawberries, hulled
2 oz Hendrick’s Gin <http://liquor.com/spirits/brands/hendricks-gin/>
1 tsp Strawberry jam
1 pinch Freshly ground black pepper
.5 oz Fresh lime juice
.25 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
Several large dashes Balsamic vinegar
Champagne
Garnish: Lime peel
Glass: Coupe
PREPARATION:
In a shaker, muddle the strawberries. Add the remaining ingredients except the Champagne and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain into a coupe glass. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lime peel.

Ward III
INGREDIENTS:
Large strawberry
2 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
.75 oz Fresh lime juice
.5 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
3 Dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 Egg white
Garnish: Grated nutmeg and strawberry slice
Glass: Rocks glass
PREPARATION:
Muddle the strawberry in a shaker. Add the other ingredients and fill with large ice cubes. Shake vigorously for at least one minute and strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with grated nutmeg and a slice of strawberry.

INGREDIENTS:
3 oz Beefeater gin
1 oz Dry vermouth
Garnish: Blackberry and raspberry
Glass: Martini
PREPARATION:
Add both ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir until well chilled and strain into a Martini glass. Garnish with a blackberry and a raspberry on a toothpick.

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 oz Hendrick’s Gin <http://liquor.com/spirits/brands/hendricks-gin/>
.75 oz Fresh orange juice
.5 oz Fresh lemon Juice
.25 oz Fresh lime juice
1 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
4 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Small thumb fresh ginger
3 Medium strawberries
2 teaspoons Cucumber foam*
Garnish: Mint sprig
Glass: Double rocks glass
PREPARATION:
In a shaker muddle the strawberries, ginger and simple syrup. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cucumber foam, and ice. Shake well and strain into a double rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Top with an optional, but preferred, 2 teaspoons of cucumber foam and garnish with a mint sprig.