How to Make a Lemon Balm Wine Cocktail

The Greek physician Dioscorides used to put lemon balm leaves in wine, which he then gave to his patients. (No one knows if this was actually used as a cure-all or just to ease the nerves of the patient.) There is a recipe for lemon wine that can be traced back to 1829; however, you probably will not want to have to deal with 40 pounds of sugar and over two pounds of lemon balm. The following recipe for lemon balm wine is much easier and does not require pounds of ingredients.

You can serve this lemon balm wine cocktail at your next get-together or just sip in the evening after a long day. Be sure to use your favorite Bordeaux and Cognac for the particular cocktail. This is also a great way to use up some of that lemon balm that you were crazy enough to plant in the ground and now have all over your garden. (Insert smiley face.)

Ingredients:

1 bottle Bordeaux

1 small bunch of lemon balm

1 small bunch of borage

1 orange, sliced

½ cucumber, thickly-sliced

1 liqueur glass of Cognac

1 tablespoon brown sugar

½ cup soda water, chilled

How to make lemon balm wine:

Step 1: Pour all of the ingredients except the soda water into a pitcher full of ice. (Make sure to stir until the brown sugar is dissolved.) Allow to sit for 1 hour.

Step 2: Strain.

Step 3: Add the chilled soda water and enjoy. Garnish with a sprig of lemon balm and/or a slice of lemon or orange.

Tips:

You can actually make this without the cognac. It is just as good.

If you are not a fan of cognac, try using your favorite brandy. You can also experiment with flavored brandies, such as an orange brandy.