{ cherry limeade gin & tonic }

It's no secret that my favorite cocktail is a gin and tonic with tons of lime. I never, EVER get tired of it. Maybe it's my British Mama who drinks it (and always has) almost as much as I do, or maybe it's the sweet and tangy lime that sings to my TexMex roots ... to be honest, it doesn't really matter. That first fizzy, icy swallow always soothes me and makes me smile.

Here's a fun fruity twist on the classic, just in time for summer. It's pretty to look at, and just as beautiful to sip.

By the way, while we're on the subject ... have I ever mentioned that I'm an ice snob? It drives my husband nuts, but trust me, good ice makes a difference, especially in a cocktail. So, if at all possible, buy a bag of good, clear ice when you're planning a cocktail or dinner party. Or keep a spare bucket on hand in the freezer. Just please, oh please, when mixing a good drink, do all you can to avoid those cloudy, crescent moon-shapes from the ice maker (caused by entrapped air and minerals) -- it's like-glopping a bunch of ketchup on a perfectly-cooked filet mignon. Sacrilege.

Cherry Limeade Gin & Tonic

Ingredients

2 oz. London dry gin

Tonic water (from a fresh, pre-chilled bottle, or else tonic will be flat in your cocktail)

1/2 oz maraschino cherry juice

2 ample wedges of lime

1 maraschino cherry

Plenty of clear ice cubes

Process
If possible, chill the glass. You may want to fill it with ice, then empty it and refill, as some bartenders do with a martini glass.

Fill the glass with whole ice cubes.

Pour the gin over the ice, which should be cold enough that it crackles when the liquor hits it.

Fill glass almost to the top with tonic; mix.

Add cherry juice, allowing it to settle to the bottom (do not mix).

Squeeze lime wedges into the glass and drop the squeezed lime into the drink as a garnish (making sure peel is washed ahead of time). Drop in a cherry. Serve.