Ingredients
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup water
8 strawberries, chopped
⅓ cup chopped mint leaves
1 cup lemon juice
1½ cups Smirnoff
4 cups sparkling water
Lemon slices, mint sprigs, and whole strawberries, for garnish
Preparation
1. Place sugar, water, chopped strawberries, and mint leaves in a sauce pot on medium heat. Bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Use a fork or a small potato masher to crush the berries. Let mixture simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Pour the strawberry mixture through a strainer into the pitcher. Pour lemon juice into a pitcher. Add Smirnoff and sparkling water. Stir to combine. Float a few lemon slices in the pitcher.
3. Pour into tall glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with a mint sprig and a strawberry