Cooking with Banshee: Banshee Collins

It's that time of year ... when the world falls in love.  It's also the time of year for parties.  And good cocktails make for good parties.  This is not my favorite drink of all time.  But, it is simple and easy.  And if you're not the type of person who usually keeps a fully stocked bar, it only requires a few ingredients.  Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup (which is simple to make), Sprite and ice.

Banshee's Vodka Collins

Make this in a 16 oz glass.  Fill the cup 2/3 of the way with ice.  Combine the following ingredients in a shaker with ice:

1. 3 oz vodka (doesn't need to be top shelf, but it should not come in a plastic bottle, either.
2.  1 1/2 oz lemon juice.
3.  3/4 oz simple syrup (I make mine half sugar and half water)

Shake those up and pour into ice-filled glass.  Top with Sprite.  Here's a tip ... don't put too much ice in the glass.  Contrary to initial impressions, extra ice will make a stronger drink.  The more ice you have, the less room there is for Sprite.  That ends up with proportionally more vodka in the equation.