I lived in Minneapolis for 3 years and nothing screams summer like a bootlegger cocktail! This is the essential Minneapolis summer cocktail and it is heavenly. Super steamy hot days are met with these herbaceous boozy gems. I was introduced to these cocktails at a rooftop English bar called Brit’s in downtown Minneapolis.

Everybody at the bar was drinking these green drinks and they looked so refreshing especially for happy hour. I asked the bartender and he simply asked do you want gin or vodka? That was the easiest question I have ever had to answer I promptly went with the vodka. From first sip I knew that I and the bootlegger were going to be friends. After I moved to Seattle I totally forgot about this Midwestern cocktail until I was doing some research and came across a recipe. A light bulb went off in my head and I knew I had to recreate this Minneapolis classic! Enjoy this minty boozy drink this weekend and toast to Minneapolis! Cheers!
Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces of gin or vodka
- 1 lime, juiced
- 8 ounces of lemonade
- 10 mint leaves
- 1 cup of ice, crushed
Garnish: mint leaves
Instructions:
- In a blender combine lime juice, lemonade, and mint leaves
- Crush ice and fill serving glass
- Pour blended mixture into serving glass
- Stir gin or vodka into blended mixture
- Garnish with mint leaves






