Happy Hour: Mustang Sally

My brother-in-law, John, has a way with cocktails. In searching for a fresh drink last Summer, he threw together this baby. After intending to try it out for at least a year, my husband and I finally got to try it out from the creator himself on a recent trip back to New York. Sure enough, this drink lives up to its reputation.

There are several ingredients in this drink that I find, even independent of each other, add a little extra ‘something’ to whatever cocktail they are in.  

• Mint – fresh mint is so flavorful that mojitos and mint juleps don’t call for all that much else. When is the last time you could resist one of those?

• Cucumber – a hip cocktail trend several years ago, I still love me a cucumber drink. It makes a libation so much more refreshing, with an innuendo of spa-style cucumber water.

• Grapefruit Juice – My good friend Cassie introduced me to the Greyhound cocktail, one of my favorite well drinks. All it calls for is vodka, grapefruit juice and ice. Not only is the grapefruit juice tart and bold, but it also can mask cheap vodka in a pinch (if, let’s say, you are getting free drinks at the fabulous Gold Nugget in Las Vegas, and want to avoid the rubbing alcohol taste of Vodka-brand vodka).

Combine them all, and you have a sure-to-please cocktail for those who love plucky flavors. Why not try it tonight?

Thinly cut 4-5 slices of cucumber.

Cut a lime in half.

Add cucumber and 4-5 mint leaves into a glass. Add the juice of your lime, sweetener of choice and muddle fervently.

Get your tequila ready. Tactfully ignore that you are almost done with a Costco-sized bottle.

Top the cucumber mixture with ice and pour tequila over the entire concoction.

Add grapefruit juice and stir vigorously. Add several small mint leaves for garnish.

And there you have it! Tart, refreshing and the perfect Summer drink.

Mustang Sally

by John Nuber

4-5 thin slices of cucumber

4-5 mint leaves, torn

½ lime, juiced

Honey / sugar /agave nectar to taste (use your favorite sweetener)

2 oz tequila

4 oz grapefruit juice

Ice

Muddle the cucumber, mint leaves, lime juice and sweetener together in a glass. To quote John, “Dear God man, MUDDLE.” Get it nice and integrated. Add ice to the glass, then pour in tequila and juice. Stir it up heartily for about 30 seconds and enjoy!

TIP: If you don’t have a muddler, just use the blunt end of a spoon. I’ve even muddled a drink with a drumstick – anything long and blunt shall do.

TIP 2.0: This is easy to make in a pitcher – just multiply the above by however many servings you are after, nix the addition of ice, and stir for some time longer. If the pitcher is sitting for some time, stir again before serving. Feel free to add minimal ice to the pitcher to chill it, but pour over fresh ice while serving so it does not get watered down.