If you've read the Ashen Series by Demi Winters, you know Silla Nordvig is a woman of small, faithful gestures. Apple cores left at the roadside. A bit of hard cheese. Carrots, smoked elk when she could manage it. Quiet offerings to the gods who may or may not be listening.
This is mine. An offering to Sunnvald, god of fire and might, king of the old gods of Íseldur, on the longest, brightest days of summer.
Sunnvald's Light is a summer bourbon cocktail, or brennsa, if you're deep enough in the world. Bright with lemon and honey, fizzy at the top, golden all the way through. It tastes like long evenings and sunlight that refuses to quit.
The Recipe
Serves 1
2 oz bourbon
Juice of half a lemon
0.75 oz honey syrup (1:1 honey to warm water, cooled)
2 dashes orange bitters
Soda water or ginger beer to top
Garnish: lemon wheel
Make your honey syrup ahead by combining equal parts honey and warm water, stir until dissolved, and let cool.
Combine bourbon, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. Top with soda water or ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel positioned like a little sun. Now, recite your prayer... Sunnvald, protect me.
Stay in Íseldur a little longer
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