With summer finally making its appearance, I can’t wait to start enjoying brighter days and brighter cocktails! Summer fruits like melons, peaches, strawberries and of course citrus are all great ways to incorporate the flavors of the season into your summer sippers. Luckily this month Dumb Bartender has teamed up with Black Button Distillery in Rochester, NY to promote their ultimate sunny-day libation, Citrus-Forward Gin! When Dave told me about this partnership, I couldn’t wait to get experimenting.

For this drink, I decided to go with a simple concoction as the citrus gin is good enough to stand on its own, but added a few ingredients to elevate the flavor profile and add depth. I really like the way the sweet & floral notes of the Lillet & St. Germain pair with the tartness of the citrus. This is a great cocktail for a casual after-work dinner with friends to enjoy the longer days and warmer evenings!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Black Button Citrus Forward Gin
• ¾ oz Lillet Blanc
• ¾ oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• Tablespoon lemon juice

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until ice-cold.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

Sit back, sip and relax!