By Miriam Landru

Now that it’s 73 and sunny, it’s time for a more refreshing, crisp cocktail. Concoct and imbibe these favorite drinks from three Fayetteville haunts.

Spring Thyme at ScrubOaks Contemporary American Pub

                ScrubOaks owners Tim and Gwen Holtsclaw pride themselves on providing fresh herbs to the ScrubOaks kitchen and bar from their herb garden from April through late November.   This Tito’s and Thyme Cocktail feature lemon thyme from their garden. 

3 fresh lemon wedges

Granulated Sugar

¼ C   Lemon-Thyme syrup (see below)

¼ C   Tito’s Vodka

¼ C   Club Soda

1 sprig fresh lemon thyme

Run lemon wedge on rim.  Reserve wedge.  Dip rim in sugar.

Put other two wedges in cocktail shaker, along with syrup and vodka.  Muddle hard, breaking lemon skin to release oils.  Cover and shake.  Carefully fill rimmed glass with ice.  Pour syrup mixture in glasses, wedges and all.  Top off with Club Soda, a squeeze from the reserved lemon wedge before dropping in the the glass.  Garnish with thyme sprig.

Lemon-Thyme Syrup

(Makes 1 cup)

1 C water
¾ cup sugar

1 tsp. Fresh lemon juice
1 small bunch fresh thyme  

In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup water, lemon juice and the sugar to boiling, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the thyme, remove from the heat, and let stand until cool. Strain, pressing to extract as much liquid as possible. Cover and refrigerate for up to three days.

Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini at Sherefe

Women are a fan of this drink… because it’s fruity and refreshing. –Erin Somar, Manager

1.5 oz blueberry Stoli

.5 oz fresh blueberry simple syrup

1 oz fresh lemon juice

2 oz sour mix

With a sugar rim

Mix ingredients and voila! Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini is served.

Pineapple Caipirinha at Pierro’s Italian Bistro

Every sip reminds you of a cool, ocean breeze. – Meilani

1 ¼ oz Brazilian Rum

¾ oz Captain Morgan Black Rum

2 oz Pineapple Juice

¾ oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

Splash of Simple Syrup

Shaken and served on the rocks in a Tom Collins glass

Splash of Grenadine

Float of Grenadine

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker/Tom Collins glass and top with the float of grenadine.