Arak summer cup cocktails
My friend Sami makes the most amazing Massaya wine in the Bekaa Valley, just above Beirut. He also distills his own arak using obeidi grapes and organic aniseed – it's a seriously good drop. It's perfect as a base for a refreshing summer cocktail like this one, or just as a breezy aperitif on its own. If you don't have arak to hand, don't worry – sambuca, ouzo or pastis will do the trick just as well.
Ingredients
150g mixture of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries (you can use just two types of berries if you like), plus extra to serve
a couple of handfuls of garden herbs such as mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, basil etc, plus extra to serve
80g granulated sugar
4 measures (either a single shot or double shot, as you prefer) of arak (sambuca, ouzo or pastis would also work)
ice, for serving
300ml kombucha
Method
Step
Hull the strawberries and cut any large ones into quarters and combine with the remainder of the 150g berries (raspberries and blueberries) as well as a couple of handfuls of garden herbs in a large jug or bowl.
Step
Bring 300ml water to the boil and add 80g granulated sugar. Stir then simmer for about 1 minute until it dissolves. Leave to cool for about 5 minutes.
Step
Pour the sugar syrup over the jug/bowl of fruit and herbs.
Step
Leave to infuse until it cools completely to room temperature, stirring now and then.
Step
To serve, add 4 single or double shots of arak (or your spirit of choice) to the jug of infused syrup and berries. Gently muddle it all together.
Step
Half fill four tall glasses with ice then pour in the arak fruit infusion. Stir well.
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