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We have tried many fun cocktails over the course of quarantine, which we are still very much living through in these parts, but my absolute favorite has been “The Seersucker” from Mr. Magpie’s favorite book from storied craft cocktail bar Death & Co, which is as pretty to look at as it is dangerously easy to drink. It is fruity but the cinnamon flavor affords surprising warmth and depth, and any cocktail with crushed ice feels like vacation. You have to make the cinnamon bark syrup in advance (but once it’s made, you’ll find the cocktail so easy to make anytime you have strawberries on hand!), and the Flor de Cana brand rum is a MUST-buy to make the cocktail work, but beyond that, it’s a fairly simple recipe and will immediately transform your unremarkable groundhog-day-like Tuesday or Wednesday into “the happy day we drank seersuckers.”
The Seersucker.
1 strawberry
2 ounces Flor de Cana extra-dry white rum
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce cinnamon bark syrup (recipe follows)
GARNISH: 1 strawberry
In a shaker, gently muddle the strawberry. Add the remaining ingredients and short shake with 3 ice cubes. Strain into a pilsner glass with crushed ice. Garnish with the strawberry and serve with a straw.
Cinnamon Bark Syrup
5 cinnamon sticks
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
Muddle cinnamon sticks until they are broken up into shards and put into a saucepan. Add water and sugar to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, lower heat, cover and let simmer for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand overnight. Strain through a cheesecloth wrapped sieve into bottle or mason jar.
*Some of our favorite bar gear:
+These angled measuring jiggers, which make pouring small amounts so easy (you can see how much you’ve poured from a bird’s eye view, without having to hold the jigger up to your face);
+This 8×6 mini epicurean cutting board (perfect for slicing citrus and prepping garnishes);
+This steel cocktail strainer;
+A wood muddler similar to this that belonged to Mr. Magpie’s grandmother (would make a cool gift for a cocktail-obsessed friend);
+Plastic squeeze bottles (Mr. Magpie stores all of his syrups/sweeteners in these in our fridge and they keep forever — he labels them with my handy labelmaker);
+Boston cocktail shakers (note: I think Koriko brand shakers are widely considered the best); and
We always follow the cocktail book’s advice for glassware, so we do use pilsners for this cocktail, which makes me feel like I’m on a vacation — but I do want to add that my absolute favorite cocktail glass is this etched fish old-fashioned one, which I use for margaritas and palomas. It makes me so happy!
What are your favorite cocktails?!
Post-Scripts.
+These personalized packing cubes are so cute!
+This quilted liner coat is adorable and on sale. Perfect transitional coat.
+Cute fall bows for a little one — love the sage gingham. I’m usually an oversized bow kind of girl, but I like these for pigtails.
+Speaking of hair accessories, if you’re still on the statement headband bandwagon — how amazing are these ones?!
+This maxi dress makes me want to CELEBRATE.
+I mentioned the other day that my favorite puff-sleeved sweatshirt that always sells out is fully restocked here — but I have also spotted this similar $20 short-sleeved variation on so many chic peas!
+Dying over this top with high-waisted light-wash denim.
+Adore this $90 dress from Banana! It reminds me of something by SEA or Ulla.
+Love this rattan and wood bench. So chic and unexpected.
+Speaking of Chanel vibes — love this fringed sweater jacket for fall, and I already own this pearl-trim cardigan, which I cannot wait to wear as temperatures fall.
+With the bandwidth having a nanny has afforded, I’m trying to get more organized about diversifying meals for my children. Has anyone else been in a major food rut in quarantine!? I felt like I just did not have the space to think outside the box there. I’ve been cooking more and trying new recipes for them, and I think having a meal planning pad would help.
+Two great pairs of everyday ballet flats on sale: these Stuart Weitzmans and these LRs, which are reminiscent of the very-popular Mansur Gavriels I’ve seen all over the place (and which can be monogrammed — oh la la!)
+On planting trees under whose shade you do not intend to sit.