Vodka Lemon Sorbet

A couple of weeks ago I picked up an ice cream maker at the discount store.  It was cheap, but it expanded my culinary reach by a lot.  So I made this super simple lemon sorbet.  After tasting it, I knew it would be the base of an amazing cocktail.  So I had a few cocktails and finally came up with the ratio of sorbet to vodka that makes a perfect cocktail.  To my surprise, It was a heck of a lot of vodka.  Hooray for all of us.

This can be served in a chilled martini glass, but I prefer to use a stylish chilled rocks glass.  Mostly because my friends break all of my martini glasses.  You know who you are!  All jokes aside, it is easier on my pocketbook to make cocktails in rocks glasses.

Vodka Lemon Sorbet

• 3 tsp scoops of lemon sorbet (recipe follows) – use a melon ball scoop or tsp cookie scoop
  
• 2 oz vodka – High quality, lemon or citrus vodkas work great too
  
• 4 oz seltzer

Place 3 tsp sized scoops of lemon sorbet into a rocks or martini glass.  Add the vodka and seltzer and stir.  Let the drink sit for 60-90 seconds before drinking.  The sorbet will melt and infuse the cocktail with a refreshing lemon flavor.

Lemon Sorbet – (From Emeril Lagasse)

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbs lemon zest

Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, remove from the heat, and cool. Combine the syrup with the lemon and zest and mix thoroughly.

Ice Cream Machine Directions

Pour the mixture into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

After the sorbet is made, transfer to an airtight container. Cover tightly and freeze until ready to serve.

Freezer Method

Pour the mixture into an air tight container and cover tightly.  Place in the freezer for an hour or two, until just slightly frozen.  Using a fork, break apart the sorbet.  Scraping it until all of the sorbet is loose.  Place back into the freezer until completely frozen.  At this point you can use it, or if you want an even lighter dessert, place the sorbet into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.  At this point it will be light and airy.

Bartender Tip of the Day

Quick and Easy way to Chill a Glass

I have been stuck at the bar without a chilled glass. Happens all of the time.  One person orders a martini and everyone in the bar sees it and orders a martini.  It is one of those Monkey see, Monkey do moments.   It is great for the bottom line, but horrible on the bartender with only 6 frozen martini glasses.

The quick solution.  Before you start mixing up the drink, place a cup of ice in each glass.  Then fill with seltzer water.  By the time you are finished mixing the cocktail, the martini/pint glass is properly chilled.

For today’s cocktail you do not use a shaker, so I would let the ice sit in the glass for at least a minute before making the cocktail.