This summer cocktail puts a new spin on the classic gin fizz recipe with the addition of fresh thyme and in-season plums.
We’re embracing fresh summer produce in all its glory. I just can’t get enough of it. Or of this Fresh Thyme and Plum Gin Fizz. It kind of makes me wish drinking in public places was legal here in CA so I could gingerly sip on one as I cruised through the Farmer’s Market on a Saturday afternoon. Doesn’t that just sound lovely?
Well, my imagination is going to have to do for now, because I certainly won’t be leisurely strolling through the Farmer’s Market this weekend. There’s still waayyyyy too much to do to get ready for the wedding! We have table numbers to make, cornhole boards to finish, booze to buy, bags to pack…The list goes on. So instead I’m going to be making a Fresh Thyme and Plum Gin Fizz to have in my hand as I’m getting things organized and sitting hunched over a glue gun. These are grand ol’ times, I tell ya.
But it will all be worth it ONE WEEK from now when I walk down the aisle! We’re getting so excited to see all of our family and friends and celebrate with them. It’s definitely going to be the weekend of a lifetime and we can’t wait.
Until then, we’re keeping our nerves in check with delicious adult beverages like these. Not too many, of course, but just enough to keep our emotions in line (and keep our tolerance up for what is sure to be a weekend of indulgence.)
That’s what I love about this Fresh Thyme and Plum Gin Fizz. Now, this is definitely not a drink for those of you who like your cocktails sweet, colored and super-fruity. It’s also not a drink for those of you who don’t like gin.
This IS a drink for those of you who like light, refreshing, herb-y gin cocktails that won’t leave you with a raging headache/incredibly bad hangover the next day. Were you a fan of this Cucumber Elderflower Gin Fizz I made a few months back? Then you’ll also be a huge fan of these. All of the elements that go into this drink are super-fresh (we’re looking at you, thyme and plums!) with no heavy-duty artificial sweeteners (save for a little bit of simple syrup, which isn’t nearly as bad for you as say, oh, blue curacao?)
It comes together in a flash, and is even adaptable to whatever stone fruit might be looking extra-ripe, delicious and juicy at the Farmer’s Market that day. Plums won out from my Market’s selection, but you could easily sub in peaches or apricots, even pluots? You’ll also notice that I threw in some fresh blueberries, you know, just for good measure 😉 The possibilities are endless.
Now, how do we make this super-delicious, super-refreshing Fresh Thyme and Plum Gin Fizz, you ask? Simple. We start by muddling gin and thyme in a small bowl or cup (not the vessel that you will eventually be serving the cocktail in), and pour this mixture through a fine mesh sieve into the actual cocktail glass. This step is simply to impart the thyme flavor into the gin but not have those annoying little leaves getting stuck in your teeth with every sip you take.
Once we have the thyme-infused gin in the glass, we add slices of fresh plums and muddle that combo once again. We want to leave the muddled plums in the glass for the actual cocktail because we want as much plum flavor as possible in these puppies!
Finally, we top all of that with some crushed ice and soda water. To make sure we don’t forget there’s thyme in these, we garnish with a lovely fresh thyme sprig. How’s that for an eye-appealing, summer-friendly drink?
Fresh Thyme and Plum Gin Fizz
Ingredients
- 4 ounces gin
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme plus 2 extra sprigs for garnishing
- 1-2 ripe red plums, cut into wedges amount will depend on how ripe and juicy the plums are and how much plum flavor you’d like)
- Soda water to top off
Instructions
- In a small bowl or cup, muddle gin and thyme leaves. Strain evenly into two cocktail glasses using a fine mesh sieve.
- Divide plum wedges into both cocktail glasses and muddle some more.
- Add crushed ice to each glass and top off with soda water. Garnish each cocktail with a thyme sprig.
Notes
- You can purchase pre-made simple syrup here (affiliate link) or make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan (I usually do about 1 cup each) and simmering until reduced by half and syrupy.
Nutrition
Now who’s ready for a drink??
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