Fresh summer strawberries muddled in a drink is one of our favorite ways to enjoy the season, and the Dusty Trails from Shelly Lindgren at A16 in Oakland, California is one of the best applications of the technique.
Grassy, spicy rye is an unexpected mate to sweet strawberries, but it totally works – and the rhubarb bitters add to the a sweet, pie-like flavors. Ginger and honey are lovely together, and along with the sparkling water it’s something like a deconstructed Kentucky Buck.
Lindgren calls for a basil-leaf garnish, but really any fresh summer herb will take it from merely wonderful to truly fantastic. If you don’t have any fresh herbs laying around, a lime twist or wheel helps to give it even more olfactory oomph.
