Strawberry Martini

These days, the British strawberry season, unlike the British summer, extends from mid-April until mid-December. However, the arrival of the strawberry marks the beginning of Summer and these succulent, fragrant fruit are as beautiful as they are flavoursome. Try this delicate strawberry martini recipe and why not add a splash of lemongrass and ginger syup for good measure?

For better flavour, let the strawberries come to room temperature before eating, or put them out to warm in the sun for a couple of hours to bring out full taste and aroma. Delicious!

Recipe
Splash of dry Vermouth
2 handfuls sweet ripe strawberries cut into chunks
Sprig of fresh mint
2 handful ice cubes
150ml Stolichnaya vodka

-Chill two martini glass for at least half an hour until very cold
- Put a few drops of dry vermouth into each glass and swirl it around. Put a few strawberry chunks into the bottom of each glass.
- Put a small handful of the strawberry chunks and mint into a cocktail shaker and add ice cubes and the vodka. Put the top on and shake it about.
- Strain into your two martini glasses

Add a dash of Ginger & Lemongrass syrup?

250ml water
3cm piece of root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
125g soft light brown sugar
1 stick of lemongrass, split lengthways and crushed

- Heat the water, sugar, lemongrass and ginger together
-Simmer gently for 5 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly, remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Add a dash to the strawberry martini for fragrant flavour.