Strawberry Mint Sparkler

Juicy summer strawberries are combined with tart lime juice and bright mint in this sweet and sour effervescent vodka cocktail. It's light, not too sugary, and eminently day-drinkable. Do consider adjusting the amount of simple syrup depending on the sweetness of your strawberries.

2½ oz fresh strawberries, sliced (from approximately 5 medium berries)
½ oz simple syrup
½ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed (1 lime)
10 mint leaves
2 oz vodka
2½ oz club soda

Garnish:
lime wheel, mint, or strawberry

In a cocktail shaker, combine strawberries, simple syrup, and lime juice and muddle until strawberries are completely dissolved. Add mint leaves and gently tap 5 times with muddler. (Do not over-muddle mint or it will taste bitter and muddy.) Add vodka to shaker and fill 2/3 full with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds.

Fill a Collins glass with ice and add club soda. Fine-strain cocktail into glass and stir gently. Garnish with lime, mint, or strawberry, if desired.

Makes 1 serving.

Cook's Note: To make simple syrup, combine 1 cup water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cool before using. Simple syrup will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.