This combination of flavors is fresh, light, and summery, and reminds me of hot, August late afternoons, sitting on the patio, watching the sun go down. Last summer I was pregnant (read: overheated, fat, and miserable), and then had a newborn, so I didn't spend nearly as much time enjoying the outdoors as I normally would. This year, I'm looking forward to breaking out my crappy, inflatable, not-quite-big-enough pool and spending as many afternoons as possible in the backyard with Isla and Jeff. And this cocktail.
"At its heart, the smash is a wonderfully forgiving and flexible drink, made for hot days, for using what’s on hand and for smashing it all together over ice for pure sipping bliss."
Muddle 4 ripe cherry tomatoes in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and ice, and shake until chilled. Double strain into a chilled julep cup filled with cracked ice. Garnish with dill pollen, black pepper, and cherry tomatoes.
Add 2 chopped nectarines to a small heat-safe mixing bowl or an oversized mug. Add 1/2 cup of white sugar and muddle the sugar with the fruit until it becomes paste-like. Allow this mixture to sit, covered, for a few hours. Pour 1/2 cup of boiling water over the sugar and fruit paste and stir quickly to dissolve the sugar. Let stand. Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer and enjoy. This will result in a syrup that closely resembles the flavor of the fresh fruit.