Is it 5 o'clock yet?

When life has given you lemons, a home-squeezed adult beverage can really hit the spot. One of my recent favorites is Cruzan vanilla mint lemonade. I’ve even made one with cucumbers, too! But for the moment, let’s keep it simple.

Last year’s mint is on the rise on the deck and ready for picking.

Katty and the mint!

And I’ve got a lemon in the fridge and a bottle of Cruzan Vanilla Rum. It must be 5 o’clock somewhere, no? Let’s muddle that one over with a tablespoon of simple syrup. HA HA! Like so:

CRUZAN VANILLA MINT LEMONADE

8 fresh mint leaves (mine were small, so I picked a few extra!)
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1/2 a lemon, squeezed
1/3 cup Cruzan Vanilla Rum
Pellegrino (or any other fizzy, unflavored beverage such as seltzer or club soda)
crushed ice (crushing ice is almost as rewarding as drinking this drink!)

Muddled mint leaves in simple syrup

Muddle mint leaves in simple syrup. Crush ice. If you don’t feel like a few bangs on a sandwich bag to crush the ice, cubes are fine.

Crushing ice is both cathartic and fun!

Cruzan Vanilla Rum & friends!

Fill glass about 3/4 of the way with ice. Pour muddled mint over ice. Squeeze half a lemon. I cut the half in two for easy squeezin’. Throw one of the quarter lemons in the glass. Add rum. Top with fizziness of choice. Serve. Smile. :) Watch your day improve.

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