Siam Sunray

Siam Sunray in the foreground.

We were sitting on the veranda when I stood up, went to the window box, picked a chilli, bruised it, then popped it in my vodka. My friends thought I had lost my mind. I started to tell them about a recent trip to Thailand where I enjoyed a cocktail had enjoyed called Siam Sunray. To me it had all the ingredients in it that I love about Thai cooking.


Background to the cocktail : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29279391/

Here is my version for you to enjoy.

INGREDIENTS:
30-40 ml. of Smirnoff vodka
30 ml. of coconut liqueur (Malibu)
15 ml. of syrup (recipe below) You might want to add more if you prefer a slightly sweeter drink.
Thai chilli
1 Kaffir lime leaf
3 slices of ginger
Slice of fresh lime
1 Stick of lemon grass
A squeeze of fresh lime juice
Soda water


METHOD:
Bruise the ginger, Kaffir lime leaf, and lemon grass to bring out the flavour. Add syrup, lime juice, Smirnoff, and coconut liqueur, and shake in a cocktail shaker. Blend well.

Strain into a glass with ice, top up with soda water; garnish with chilli, lemon grass and a slice of lime. 

SIMPLE SYRUP:

The easiest way, I find, to make simple syrup is to combine equal parts (1:1) sugar and water in a bottle and shake it until the sugar is completely dissolved. The result is a thin syrup, but it does the job!