All Hail the Queen!

This week’s cocktail pays homage to badass British dancer and actress Lydia Thompson often dubbed  the “queen of burlesque” who took New York by storm in 1868 with her performance troupe the British Blondes. Thompson and the Blondes made waves with audiences on their tour with performances combining comedy, satire, racy costumes and outward sexuality becoming one of the hottest acts in show business at the time. Surely around this time of year Lydia was sipping a Pimm’s Cup which is THE summer cocktail of choice in England and inspiration for our recipe here.

You’ll need:

2oz Pimm’s No. 1

1oz Strawberry Puree

1/2 oz Simple Syrup

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

2 Cucumber Slices

3 Basil Leaves

Prosecco

How to:

Muddle the the cucumber, basil leaves and simple syrup to release all of those juices and aromas. Add the strawberry puree, lemon and Pimm’s and shake very well with ice. Pour into a Collins glass (or tall glass) and top with Prosecco because everything is better when topped with bubbly. Garnish with a cucumber slice, strawberry or basil leaf and sip away!

Strawberry Puree:

Cut tops off and quarter 1 pint of strawberries. Cook strawberries with 1 tablespoon of sugar in a saucepan at low heat for approximately 20 minutes or until the fruit is broken down, stirring frequently. You shouldn’t need to add water because the berries will release water as they heat up and break down. If you see the berries are dry or sticking add a dash of water. You can use either fresh or frozen berries, frozen will release a little more water so your puree will be a little less concentrated. Remove from heat and using a hand blender or food processor blend until you have a smooth consistency. Depending on the ripeness of the berries you may have to add a little more sugar so be sure to taste the puree. Let the puree cool and add a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice to help preserve the fruit. Transfer to a clean, sealable container. The puree will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or you can freeze it for up to 6 months.