Happy Hour Friday: The Vermonter

Why can’t I have a vacation home in Vermont? Why not? Right now I am wondering: Why can’t I make enough money to have a country home in Vermont, a city home in New York, and Texas home in Austin? I’m only half joking. I’m old enough now that it could be a realistic lifestyle. The problem is I definitely do not make that kind of money – and never will, regardless of my age.

I am lucky enough to have friends, though, who hook me up. My pals from Austin have access to a great vacation home in rural Vermont, which is where we are right now. Other friends set us up in New York when we passed through. And I have other friends who are excellent travel companions, adventurous and outgoing people who I love to explore with. Come to think of it, I don’t need to own that vacation home, really. I have great friends to travel with or visit, and I have great friends in my home town of Austin and that’s really all I need after all.

Here’s a cocktail that I created to dedicate to Leon, said friend who is currently hosting me in Vermont. Because of him and his wife Stella, I am happily enjoying fires in a fireplace, fall colors in the Vermont trees, pumpkin patches on the side of the road, and fresh raspberries from the farm stand next door.

The Vermonter

1 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon

½ oz. grapefruit juice

¼ oz. raspberry infused simple syrup*

¼ oz. ginger infused simple syrup**

Shake over ice and strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

*Raspberry Simple syrup

½ c. water

½ c sugar

½ c. fresh raspberries

Combine in a saucepan, bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Cool and strain through a fine mesh sieve.

**Ginger Simple Syrup

½ c. water

½ c. sugar

3 T. grated fresh ginger

Combine in a saucepan, bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Cool and strain through a fine mesh sieve.