The Nuttall's Woodpecker - A cocktail recipe by Michelle Hartsell Cocktail Engineer

I was gifted a bottle of Roku Japanese Gin and some fresh picked blueberries by good friends and decided to use these in a gin smash variation.  The fresh blueberries were so sweet and juicy that they really yielded a good size cocktail.  The color is all natural.  

To make this add several large basil leaves and about a quarter cup of fresh blueberries to a cocktail shaker and mash these with a muddler.  Add ice, the lemon juice and lemon-thyme simple syrup to the shaker and shake well.  This one requires double straining into a cocktail glass.  If you want a lighter version just serve this in a rocks glass over ice and add a splash of club soda.

Ingredients

• 4 or so large basil leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
• 1/4 cup blueberries, plus a few for garnish
• 2 oz Roku Japanese craft gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice, plus a slice of peel for garnish
• 3/4 oz lemon-thyme simple syrup
• Club soda, optional if serving over ice

Makes 1

A not great pic of a Nuttall's Woodpecker that was foraging in our backyard last spring