Summer Cocktail | Gooseberry Elderflower Fizz

I think we all have our standbys when it comes to both cocktails and summer fruit. But I definitely fall into the category of 'farmers market impulse shopper' as well, and that makes both cocktails and summer fruit a toss up when I come back from browsing. While it doesn't get better than a classic gin and soda with lemon for me or a cucumber, melon vodka drink, if I run out of things to do with a newer fruit to me (gooseberries), you can bet yourself I'm going to either throw it in a smoothie or make it a cocktail. 

Gooseberries feel like a mystery for me. They never grew around my parent's property (where we have all sorts of other berries and even some leftover apples from the orchard the land used to be). I never saw them at Northern Virginia farmers markets...ever. And in fact, I still never see them at my local farmers markets or groceries...THESE I brought home with me from an Amish market on the Maryland-five-seconds-from-Pennsylvania border. As far as nutrition goes, they categorize in my brain like many other berries: 1 cup gives you about 70% of your vitamin C for the day and a quarter of the fiber you need. Depending on if you eat a truly ripe one or not, they're either tart and grape like or incredibly floral and sweet with a hint of acid. 

Summer Cocktail | Gooseberry Elderflower Fizz 

/// Ingredients ///

• 1 cup of gooseberries (stems/tops removed)
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 shot vodka (per drink)
• 1/2 shot elderflower liqueur (I like St Germain) 
• seltzer (to fill)

/// Directions /// The gooseberry blend will give you at least two cocktail starters (depending on how big your glasses are). Add gooseberries and water to a pot on the stove. Mash the berries and cook over medium for several minutes. Blend using an immersion blender. Strain out the solids and stir sugar into the still warm gooseberry juice. Taste the juice. If you have some slightly under ripe gooseberries, you're going to want to add a little more sugar. That's the beauty of nature...you just have to adjust with what you have! So taste, taste, taste! Chill the juice (or pour over ice in the glass). I like about 1/4 cup  juice in my cocktail. Add vodka, seltzer, elderflower and stir. Garnish with gooseberry swizzle sticks.