This strawberry rhubarb gin smash recipe is a refreshing, colorful cocktail that’s perfect for the summer. I’m no stranger to a summer cocktail and this strawberry rhubarb gin smash has to be my favourite recipe so far. I never thought to put rhubarb in a cocktail until I was dining at a local restaurant with some friends. I decided to order a strawberry rhubarb lemonade that was mixed with vodka – It was delicious, and I was hooked.
What is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a celery-like plant that grows in the spring. It may look like a large celery stick, but it actually has no relation to celery at all. unlike celerly leaves, rhubarb leaves are poisonous. Rhubarb is known for it’s sour and tart ruby red stalks that pair beautifully with sweet seasonal fruit such as strawberries.
Ingredients
- Rhubarb Stalks
- Fresh Strawberries
- Fresh Mint
- White Sugar
- Soda Water
- Ice
- Hendrick’s Gin
How to Make Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Smash
- First, make the rhubarb simple syrup. Grab a small saucepan and add equal parts water and sugar. Let the sugar dissolve on medium-high heat. While your sugar water is coming to a simmer, cut 2 cups of rhubarb into 1cm cubes.
- Add your rhubarb cubs to your simmering sugar mixture. Let that simmer for 30-40 minutes. Stirring and keeping an eye on water evaporation.
- After your mixture has slightly thickened and the rhubarb cubes are well past soft, pour the mixture into a bowl with a fine-mesh strainer to catch the rhubarb mush. Push the mush into the strainer to extract as much flavour as possible.
- TIP: Keep the rhubarb mush to use in recipes such as jams and crumbles.
- Let the simple syrup cool until at least room temperature.
- Cut strawberries into small cubes and add them into a stone bowl with mint springs. Muddle until blended and the mint oils are extracted.
- Spoon the strawberry and mint mixture into the bottom of a glass and cover with ice.
- Add 1 oz of gin and pour club soda over the ice, leaving space for the simple syrup.
- Fill the remaining space in the glass with simple syrup. Add less simple syrup for a mild taste, and more for a sweeter drink.
- Stir and add a rhubarb ribbon, strawberry, or mint to garnish.
