The Vanilla Lemon Drop

Inspired by a Taste of Vanilla Lemonade in Hawaii, this  perfect celebration cocktail, combining two fragrant tastes only takes mere seconds to mix and enjoy ©Photo by Manja Wachsmuth - foodphotographersfavorites.co.nz

Serves 1

Ingredients

60ml Vodka (2 shots/ 2 fl oz)
30ml Lemon juice, Fresh, Strained (1 shot/1 fl oz)
10ml Vanilla syrup - I used Heilala (2 tsp)
Vanilla bean sliver for garnish

Directions

Pour liquid ingredients into an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well, Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a sliver of vanilla bean.

NZ Vanilla Greyhound

This fresh inviting citrus masquerading as an orange is actually a grapefruit; called a New Zealand Poor Man’s Orange imported into NZ in the 1800’s from Australia, it’s fragrance and flavor resemble a tangelo, sweet and grows prolifically in NZ’s Far North. This is nothing like the tinned can of white grey yellow liquid labeled grapefruit juice, poured into tall iced glasses to mix in with some basic vodka lurking beneath. No, this is not your typical greyhound at all …

Recipe: Fill a tall collins glass with big square ice cubes. Pour in 1 shot of your favorite vodka (I like NZ’s 42 Below). Add 2 shots of New Zealand grapefruit juice and a teaspoon of Heilala or pure vanilla extract. Swirl to combine. Rim a tall glass with a vanilla sugar/salt rim. Carefully pour cocktail into glass, top with sparkling water and garnish with peeled grapefruit segments. Serves one.