Vento cocktail #1

This selfie was taken in December at The Bean in Chicago during the trip that Tram and I took to visit Lori and Jonathan Vento.

Lori and Jonathan provided the cocktails for our Friday night soirée.

Today I present you with Lori’s cocktail. Tomorrow I’ll post Jonathan’s. Then I’ll fill you in on which was our favorite.

Lori’s Honey Paloma Cocktail

Honey Simple Syrup

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey

Cocktail

• 2 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 cup cooled Honey Simple Syrup

• Ice
• 1 ½ cups tequila, divided
• 2 cups chilled club soda, divided
• Citrus wedges and mint sprigs, for garnish

Honey Simple Syrup: Combine water and honey in a small pan.  Heat on low-medium heat, stirring, until the honey has dissolved. Allow syrup to cool completely before using.

Cocktail: Pour fresh grapefruit juice and fresh lime juice into a pitcher. Whisk in the cooled Honey Simple Syrup. Refrigerate the citrus mixture for at least 1 hour or until ready to use. Whisk thoroughly one more time before using.

To Serve: Fill each of 8 highball glasses a little more than half full of ice. Divided the chilled citrus juice mixture evenly between them. Add 1 ½-ounces tequila to each glass and top off each glass with 1/4 cup of club soda. Stir to combine.

Garnish each finished cocktail with a citrus wedge and a mint sprig pick.

Makes 8 cocktails