I’m off to the cottage for a week and spent the morning shopping for the food items necessary for the meals and side dishes I’ve been assigned to. With that accounted for, no cottage shopping list of mine is complete without the ingredients for a yummy dockside sipper, so I was sure not to leave the store without that checked off.

Since I can’t take you with me up north, here’s the recipe I’ll be bringing along for happy hour. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to try something new, no matter where you put your feet up to relax.

The Barefoot Contessa’s Whiskey Sour – makes 4 drinks

3/4 cup whiskey (her recipe calls for Jack Daniels, but I think any good quality whiskey does the trick)

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

2/3 cup simple syrup (mix 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and cook over medium heat until the sugar is well dissolved. Pour into a jar and chill thoroughly before use)

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into chilled glasses.

I have also doubled this recipe to make a pitcher of it for a party and its always a hit. I like it served on lots of ice… they’re strong!

* Recipe featured in Barefoot Contessa At Home, by Ina Garten