Raspberry Rum Limeade

Usually when one goes on vacation, especially when she visits old friends with whom there is a history of knocking back a cocktail or two during said visit, the creation of a new drink seems inevitable.

In years past when my family and I have gone out to Southern California to spend time with our many dear friends, I have been the self-designated bartender and have poured some wicked Mai Tais, Bloody Marys, gin and tonics, you name it. This year I assumed I would fashion a fairly impressive cocktail, since, after all, I started my blog this past year and have been experimenting with many more concoctions than ever before.

But for some reason I found myself stuck with no inspiration whatsoever. Maybe my brain shut off when I checked in for my outbound flight. Maybe I needed a break from not only my full-time corporate job, but from cocktail mixing as well. I just know that the only drinks I found myself preparing during our vacation were the old standbys, not some unique masterpiece. I even lost the popular vote for my Bloody Mary to a mere novice, my friend Xochitl’s son Dan (although the people voting were also young and not exactly Bloody Mary connoisseurs. And you know I still love you, Danny!).

Alas, there is no happy ending to this story. I didn’t find my spark and conjure up the most amazing drink to share with you. What inspired me this week was the unrelenting heat out West—the temps reached a scorching 114 degrees on our last full day in Southern California.

When the wind blew, it felt like an assault by a blast furnace. It was a bit cooler back in Pennsylvania, but I imagined a nice refreshing summer cocktail on our flight home. This raspberry rum limeade can be as strong or as light as you decide, but either way it will be a cool breezy drink to enjoy on those sweltering summer days.

Here’s the recipe:

Raspberry Rum Limeade

1½ to 2 oz raspberry rum (I used Bacardi)
1½ to 2 oz Deep Eddy lemon vodka
2 to 3 oz Simply Limeade
Club soda

Pour the first three ingredients in a tall glass with ice, then top with a few ounces of club soda. Garnish with a handful of fresh raspberries and a wedge of lime.

Now that I'm back home and back in the groove, I am hoping the heat doesn't warp the part of my cranium that holds the cocktail ideas. We'll all be better off with more drinks to choose from this summer.