Spicy Celery Cocktail

A refreshing alternative to a Bloody Mary, this Spicy Celery Cocktail is the perfect Summertime treat!  This drink uses fresh ingredients from Summer's bounty, and a splash of celery soda to finish it all off.  Of course you can always skip the gin to make it an all-ages, anytime treat.

For one cocktail, I used:

• 1 lemon (though lime is good too!)
• 3 cherry tomatoes
• 1 Tablespoon diced red or yellow pepper
• 1 Tablespoon diced celery (save rest of stalk for garnish)
• 1 1/2 ounces of gin (vodka can also be substituted)
• Celery soda*
• A healthy dash of Tabasco sauce
• Celery salt to rim the glass

* Part of the reason I wanted to make this drink is because I noticed Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda at my local market, Le Beau.  If you can't find something similar, substitute ginger ale or tonic water plus a pinch of celery seed

Muddle together the tomatoes, diced peppers and celery, hot sauce, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with a wooden spoon.

Add the gin (or vodka) and ice, and shake well.

Rub the rim of the glass with the juiced lemon and dip in a dish of celery salt.

Strain cocktail into prepared glass and top with celery soda. 

Garnish with celery stalk and enjoy responsibly!