You might say I’m getting old, but I’ve been particularly fond of low-alcohol cocktails of late. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a stiff drink at the end of a long day. It’s just that if I’m sipping low-proof libations, I can indulge in more than just one. Needless to say, when I read about these fennel rhubarb cocktail pitchers from Outerlands in a recent version of Bon Appétit, I was on board and ready to ride.

Outerlands takes the time to infuse their vermouth with the fennel in advance. It takes 48 hours, is super simple, and worth the wait. I suggest you give their version a go if (unlike me) you can plan in advance, and/or are looking for a larger batch of cocktails – their recipe serves eight. Instead, I wanted to come up with a way to achieve a similar fennel flavor, just a bit quicker. I went ahead and used the fennel bulb in addition to the rhubarb in the syrup. Also, garnishing with a big fresh fennel frond also helps pull out those lovely aromatics as you sip. This recipe is for one cocktail, but I might just have to make myself a couple extra . . .

(images by HonestlyYUM; recipe adapted from Bon Appétit)

