Oh my stars, it’s finally summer, can you believe it!? I thought this winter would never end. Every time I turned on the news there was another freeze warning or snow storm heading our way. I have never been stuck in my house, and then Ol’ man winter froze half of Nashville, paralyzing the city for over a week. And for all of those up North…well let’s just say I was sure glad I didn’t live in Boston.

The good news is, it’s finally here- the warm days of summer! I love everything about Summer, including the cocktails. This lemonade just might be my favorite, but those are strong words when there are so many good ones to choose from. But none are as fresh and tasty as this one. This is great when we are at the lake, on the boat or even hanging out with friends. Enjoy!

Makes 1 cocktail

6 fresh raspberries

2-3 fresh strawberries

granulated sugar, to taste

1 1/2 fl oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 fl oz. Simple syrup (see below)

a dash of sparkling water

make a sugar syrup by dissolving the sugar in a 1/4 cup water in a pan over low heat. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool completely.

Muddle the fruit and sugar in a glass until juicy and the sugar has dissolved. Add the lemon juice and syrup, mix well. Add ice to the glass and top with *vodka.

* To make non-alcoholic, replace vodka with sparkling water