lemon SMASH

Smashes are fabulously refreshing and flavourful muddled drinks in which an aromatic ingredient—a herb, berry or peel, for example—is smashed or muddled, often with sugar acting as a kind of sweet grit. A spirit is added, and often the mixture is topped up with something fizzy and lots of crushed or shaved ice. Mint Julep is a classic smash.

Since limoncello is already quite sugary, no extra sugar is needed for this sweet-tart and refreshing drink.

1 large lemon

2 pieces, each 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, of lemon grass, taken from the pale root end

1 oz Rossi D’Asiago Limoncello (LCBO 469643, $21.95)

2 oz vodka

2 tbsp (30 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice Crushed ice

Ice cold Italian lemon soda, such as Sanpellegrino Limonata

1 Wash lemon and, using a vegetable peeler, peel off 6 ribbons of zest from end to end of the lemon; set aside. 2 Juice the lemon; strain the juice through a sieve and set aside.

3 Using a kitchen mallet or the back of a heavy knife, smack the lemon grass to release the aromas, then add to a cocktail shaker. Add 4 ribbons of lemon peel to the cocktail shaker and, using a muddler, smash the peel and lemon grass until the aromas are released. Add the limoncello, vodka, lemon juice and about 4 ice cubes; shake well to get more citrusy goodness from the zest and lemon grass.

4 Strain into 2 tall glasses with ice; top with chilled lemon soda. Garnish with a stalk of lemon grass and a ribbon of lemon zest.

Makes 2 drinks