Recipe: Spanish Corrida Lemon Drop

Spanish Corrida Lemon Drop

Makes 1 drink

½ ounce dry Spanish sherry, preferably a Manzanilla

1 ½ ounces vodka

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

¾ ounce simple syrup*

Garnish: Smoked Paprika Sugar rim (procedure follows**)

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Measure in sherry, vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Cap shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into Smoked Paprika Sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Kathy's Notes: This cocktail is also great made with a squeeze of fresh tangerine instead of the lemon.

* Simple syrup is available at bar-supply stores. Or, to make it, combine 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water in a small heavy pan. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Bottle and store refrigerated until needed.

** To make a Smoked Paprika Sugar rim: Mix together 1 cup superfine or baker's sugar with 2 teaspoons smoked paprika. Place mixture in a small deep bowl. Set aside. Slit a wedge of orange, lemon or lime halfway through. Slide the wedge over the rim of a cocktail glass, and press lightly against the rim as you slowly rotate the glass, moistening the outside of the rim. Then lightly dip the outside rim into the sugar, making a 1-inch-deep frost. (The goal is not to get sugar on the inside of the rim.)

Copyright 2008, Kathy Casey Food Studios