Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year. All the sparkly lights and all the wonderful foods. It’s also usually the time of year when I have an extended period of time off of work and plenty of time to experiment with new recipes and food stuffs. It’s also a great time of year for a sparkly cocktail. That and all the lovely citrus starts showing up in the grocery stores here in the PNW. This little cocktail has a bit of it all: some sparkle, two types of citrus, and a photogenic presence.

Meyer Lemon and Kumquat Syrup Martini
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces Meyer lemon juice
½ ounce kumquat simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 tablespoon sugar
zest from one Meyer lemon
1 or 2 sliced kumquats for garnish

Combine the vodka, lemon juice, and kumquat syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Combine the sugar and zest of the Meyer lemon in a shallow dish. Dampen the rim of your martini glass with a bit of water and then dip the rim in the sugar/lemon mixture. Pour in shaken martini and garnish with the sliced kumquats.

Kumquat Simple Syrup
6 kumquats, sliced
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Stir occasionally and cook for five or so minutes, pushing on the kumquat slices to release juice. Pour syrup (kumquats included) into a small jar and cool. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for a few days.