Last weekend, I found myself with a couple of hours of quiet time one evening, and rather than sit in front of the TV, I decided to catch up on my reading. I'm a subscriber to Click Magazine, a gorgeous photography magazine filled with inspiration and tips, but I've been so busy, I haven't had time to sit and just enjoy the last issue. I decided that a delicious cocktail, a fuzzy blanket, a comfy pair of PJs and a magazine were the perfect recipe for my unexpected evening alone. I'd recently picked up a new bottle of Ransom Old Tom gin, so I decided to mix up something cool and refreshing with it: a cardamom and mint cocktail. The recipe calls for Lillet blanc, a fortified wine from France that is frequently enjoyed over ice in its homeland, but most often finds it way into cocktails here in America. It pairs beautifully with gin, and the mint and cardamom add a cool and refreshing twist. Here's the recipe if you'd like to give it a try.

Cardamom and Mint Cocktail

A handful of mint leaves (at least 5 or 6)
2 teaspoons sugar or agave syrup
A generous pinch of ground cardamom, or 2 cardamom pods
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 lime)
2 ounces Lillet Blanc
1 ounce gin, I used Ransom Old Tom gin this time, but Hendricks is also delicious

Reserve 1 or 2 mint leaves for garnish, then toss the rest in a cocktail shaker. Dump in the gin and muddle the mint leaves to release their minty goodness. Add the Lillet, sugar/agave, cardamom and lime and a bunch of ice. Shake what your mama gave you (and what's in the cocktail shaker) for a good minute. Yes, a whole 60 seconds. Strain into a martini glass or coupe and garnish with the reserved mint leaves.