What’s a backyard bbq without some tasty beverages?
When I’m grilling out I have to have a cocktail in hand or something just doesn’t feel right. Sometimes it’s just a cold beer or a whiskey & coke but today I thought I’d take things in a different direction by making a refreshing spiked sun tea. It’s easy to make and is the perfect beverage for your next cookout or family gatherings.
I start the tea in the morning just before I begin prepping my meats for the grill. I have these big 64 oz mason jars that I use to make cold brew coffee also work great for sun tea. You can use any kind of tea and make it as strong as you like. I tend to use a ratio of 1 bag for every 8 oz of water. The lemon and ginger are not only good for you but really gives your tea a fantastic flavor that really separates this brew from traditional sun tea recipes.
The fresh thyme adds a subtle herbaceous flavor. Thyme and lemon are commonly paired together in cooking so it only makes sense that they would work together in a cocktail. You only need a few sprigs of fresh thyme to infuse the flavors into the tea without overwhelming it. (Dry thyme is not recommended for this recipe so if you don’t have any fresh thyme just skip it)
I think 6-8 hours is plenty of time to infuse all the flavors but you can feel free to go longer if you’re so inclined. Once your tea is ready, just pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of thyme. Now, if you’re like me this tea is missing one key ingredient...whiskey!!!
Add a shot of your favorite bourbon to the glass then pour in your tea. My only rule is that you don’t use small batch or single barrel bourbon in mixed drinks. Those are for sipping like a gentleman (or Lady). I recommend Maker's Mark personally because it’s one of the best blended bourbons you will find on the market. It doesn’t hurt that I’ve visited the distillery and got to dip my own bottle in red wax. It’s a beautiful property so if you’re ever in Kentucky I highly recommend taking a tour.
If you need to sweeten things up feel free to use a few packets of sugar or maybe a drizzle of local honey. I’ve been eating low carb lately so I toss in a few drops of liquid stevia. On a side note this lemon thyme sun tea makes a fantastic brine for pork. You can always make a double batch and brine some thick cut pork chops overnight before grilling them up the next evening, just don’t drink the tea you used to brine the pork with. That would not be a good idea!!! Happy grilling my friends.
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