The Great Garden Spritz

By Willa Van Nostrand | June 29, 2022

Every year, I like to task myself with coming up with an ideal Garden Spritz. This recipe is really more of a template than a true recipe. The goal is to use the freshest ingredients of the season (or the moment), especially if you have a garden or access to a good farm stand, CSA or locally minded grocery store. I opt for gin in my Garden Spritz because it provides an automatic foundation of botanicals, which for me is what summer is all about. That and fresh stone fruits, berries, veggies and herbs.

My Summer of 2022 Garden Spritz begins with a fennel gin infusion with its lively green anise notes from raw fennel bulb. Then I scour the garden (or fridge) for the season’s best fruit options. Today, it’s fresh juicy strawberries from the farmers market, mint from the garden and fresh fennel fronds from a friendly neighbor. (I’d like to use strawberries from my garden, but I have this pesky habit of eating most if not all of them before getting back to my kitchen.) Thus, a trip to see my favorite farmers for fresh berries is part of my recipe for success.

As for the spirits, if there’s no gin in the house, I invite you to use whatever clear spirit you have on the shelf. Vodka, rum, pisco and tequila will all work nicely, just be sure to cover your infused ingredients completely so they’re not exposed to air.

Next comes the citrus. I personally prefer lemon in a spritz or highball, but lime will do. The fresh citrus juice will balance the sweetness of the honey and the whole drink will fizz into an irresistibly refreshing elixir with a splash of sparkling water or prosecco.

Serve up your Garden Spritz on a day when summer berries are at their peak ripeness; strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries and raspberries will do their part so long as they’re fresh and sweet with a hint of tartness. Fresh mint is perfect for the occasion—but fresh lemon balm, lemon verbena, thyme or basil are fabulous fill-ins.

With all these glorious ingredients, the Garden Spritz is occasion enough to sit back, relax and take in the fleeting, beautiful bounty of summer. Cheers!