Hello Modern Kiddo readers, Lindsay and John here from Bird and Cleaver. This week, we’ve got a quick little recipe, just for Mom and Dad.

As the temperatures begin to soar, ’tis the season for icy cold cocktails on the patio. Not only are they totally delicious, but sometimes entirely necessary. Around here, even after hours, it is not an uncommon occurrence for the temperatures to remain high enough that you need a little help getting comfortable. So, we have come up with a few tried and true refreshers for those times when just can’t seem to cool down. This fennel+ orange cocktail combines a few of our favorite flavors into one serious little thirst quencher. It’s perfect for a cocktail party, or sippin’ all by your lonesome. Either way, it will get the job done!

fennel + orange cocktail

2 oz gin
1 oz vermouth
1 oz lemon juice
1/4 cup fennel bulb/stem coarsely chopped. try not to get the frond in it.
3 orange slices + 1 for garnish
1 oz simple syrup. (we use the 50/50 sugar/water recipe. just mix them in a jar and shake until dissolved)

**should you desire an alcohol-free drink, simply omit the booze and add 3 oz soda water!

Combine gin, vermouth, fennel and orange slices in cocktail shaker. Muddle ingredients. Add lemon juice and simple syrup, shake and strain into glass with fresh ice. Garnish with fennel stem (make sure the fronds do not hang into cocktail!) and 1/2 an orange slice. Enjoy!