Homemade Ginger Cola

Jim McCaslin

Servings: Approx. 40 oz

Ingredients:
4 c filtered or spring water
4 c sugar
peel of one each orange, lemon and lime
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c lime juice
1 small hand of Ginger, sliced (peeling is not necessary)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbl dried lavender tips

Directions:

Combine water and sugar in a large sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to low heat and add orange peel, lemon peel, lime peel, cinnamon, lavender tips and ginger. Steep for 1 hr. Strain into a heatproof bowl and allow to cool slightly (about 10 minutes), then add lemon, lime juice and vanilla. Refrigerate and  use cold.

For individual servings, add 3 Tbl of syrup to an 8 oz glass filled with ice. Pour club soda or carbonated to fill the glass. Stirring is optional.