Photo by Victoria Reed
For those summer evenings when you want a cocktail without the alcohol, try Torbert Street Social’s Strawberry and Cherry Tomato Mocktail.
Libation of the month:
Strawberry and Cherry Tomato Mocktail
Where to find it:
Torbert Street Social,
305 Torbert St., Wilmington
407-6627; torbertsocial.com
At Torbert Street Social, seasoned bartender Victoria Reed has a skill for turning any pick of poison into a work of art. Whiskey cocktail in a coupe with a daisy? An old-fashioned Penicillin with a shot of smoke? I’ll take one of each—but not on a school night. (Or during a work lunch or photo shoot, I’ve learned.) For those summer occasions when you want the ritual or celebration of a cocktail sans the proof, Reed has the perfect solution: the Strawberry and Cherry Tomato Mocktail.
What you’ll need: 1 1/2 cups organic strawberries, quartered; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 1/2 cups sugar; 1 cup filtered water; 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice and apple cider vinegar; and club soda.
How to make your mocktail: Bring fruit, sugar and water to a boil in a pot, then reduce to a slow simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. To create the cordial, pour contents from the pot into a blender, mix on slow speed, then pour through a mesh strainer into a container to cool. Mix 3 ounces of the cordial, ACV and lemon juice in a shaker with ice, then strain over fresh ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with sliced strawberries and lemon rounds.
Morning meeting just got canceled? Toss it back in the shaker and add 1 1/2 ounces of tequila. Cheers!
