Thirsty Thursday: It's Getting Warm Out There!

Summertime is coming up on us faster than many of us want (spoken like a Phoenician prepping for five months of triple digits). We asked our buddy, Atlanta food PR maven Melissa Libby to have one of her restaurant clients provide us with a refreshing summer cocktail perfect for Memorial Day cookouts or just sitting by the pool.  Lara Creasy of JCT. Kitchen and Bar shared this fine tasting recipe. And one big bonus, it contains one of our faves -- Herbsaint. In keeping with JCT's farm-to-table mission, this summer-inspired twist on the Tom Collins also calls for Farmer's Organic Gin, in tribute to "our farmers."

Photo credit: McCall Webster/MLA

Farmer Tom's Collins

2 oz. Farmer's Organic Gin

1/2 oz. lemon juice

1/2 oz. simple syrup

1 bar spoon Herbsaint

Fresh herbs for muddling and garnish.

Soda water.

Tear fresh basil, thyme and dill or fennel fronds and muddle in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add Herbsaint, lemon, simple syrup and gin to glass. Add ice, cover with a shaker tin, and shake vigorously to combine. Fill a collins glass with fresh ice and strain cocktail into glass. (I like to allow bits of herb into the glass, so I don't double strain.) Top with soda water. Garnish with a piece or two of fresh herbs.

 ABOUT JCT. KITCHEN & BAR

JCT. Kitchen & Bar is one of Atlanta’s best restaurants located in the charming Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road.  JCT. Kitchen & Bar serves “Southern Farmstead Cooking” daily for lunch and dinner.  Head upstairs to JCT. Bar, voted one of the “Best Bars in America” by Esquire magazine, to keep an eye on the railroad tracks and enjoy the skyline with a drink in hand – it’s the perfect spot to enjoy Chef Ford Fry’s small Southern plates menu along with live music. JCT. Kitchen & Bar has been seen in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Elle Décor, Atlanta Magazine, PEACH, The Atlantan, Jezebel, Daily Candy, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, John Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet, The Today Show.com and more. To make a reservation, call JCT. Kitchen & Bar at 404-355-2252 or visit www.jctkitchen.com.