Cocktail of the Month: Spiked Strawberry Beer Lemonade

Nothing says "Spring is here!" like a nice, refreshing, thirst-quenching cocktail. Strawberry cocktails are good any day of the week in my book, so this month I am bringing you a recipe for a cocktail that both men or women would enjoy: Spiked Strawberry Beer Lemonade.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and chopped
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 large lemons)
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 bottles (12 ounces each) blonde or pale ale
• 6 oz. vodka
• Frozen strawberries, for chilling

Instructions: 

1. Add the berries, sugar, lemon juice, water, and vodka to a pitcher.
2. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, allowing the sugar to dissolve.
3. Add the beer and frozen strawberries (instead of ice) and stir gently to combine.
4. Add additional lemon juice or sugar to taste and use leftover strawberries to garnish.

Sounds delicious, right? Drink up!

Cocktail of the Month: Lusaka Kiss

My trip to Lusaka, Zambia is coming to an end! Insert sad face here. But of course my newly-minted friends could not send me off without a proper goodbye!  Enter the Lusaka Kiss.

Created by Phoebe of Take Me With You, this cocktail was created just for me (seriously, is there a higher honor?).  To be completely transparent with you, I haven't tried this cocktail yet but I was so flattered that Phoebe thought to create a special cocktail for me, I couldn't help but to share!

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp Agave nectar
• 1.5- 2 oz Bacardi Limon
• Cranberry juice (to taste)
• 1 tbsp of grenadine
• 1/2 oz Cherry 7-Up
• Garnish: lemon slice

Directions:

1. Slice lemon and then muddle it with grenadine and agave nectar
2. Top with ice.
3. Add 1.5 - 2oz of Bacardi Limon.
4. Add cranberry juice to taste (but do not fill).
5. Top with Cherry 7-Up.
6. Garnish beverage with a lemon slice.

We are trying the Lusaka Kiss this weekend, so I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out! Hey, sometimes you just have to create your own thing if what you want isn't out there.  And by out there, I mean in Zambia because I am HARD PRESSED to find a decent cocktail in this country. Wish us luck!