Blueberry and Mint Spritzer

Ingredients	Amount
Blueberries, fresh or frozen	3 cups
Simple syrup	1 cup
Lime juice	½ cup
Lemon zest	2 tsp.
Mint leaves, torn	1 cup
Club soda	4 cups
Vodka (optional)	8 fl. oz.
Blueberries, fresh	1 cup

Method

1. Make the blueberry base: Combine the first four ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the mint leaves. Stir with wooden spoon to release the mint aromas.

2. Chill completely and strain out solids into a container by pushing on the blueberries to extract as much juice as possible.

3. For each drink: Combine 3 oz of the chilled blueberry base in a shaker with ½ cup ice cubes, 1 fl. oz. vodka if using, and shake to muddle and strain into a chilled glass; add 4 oz. club soda.

4. Garnish with a few blueberries and a mint leaf.

Yield: 8 (8 oz.) drinks