It’s cocktail hour.

In honor of this fine July Fourth holiday weekend, independent distilleries, home-grown mint, and recent travels, POD offers you the Southside:

serves 2

4 ounces Rehorst (Milwaukee’s finest) or Bluecoat (Philly’s even better) Gin
1 ounce simple syrup
1 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
15 small mint leaves
5-8 drops cocktail bitters

Muddle the mint — squish with the back of a spoon — in a large cocktail shaker. Add plenty of ice and remaining ingredients. Shake until the shaker is nice and frosty and your pinkies hurt.  And then shake some more. Strain into a martini glass.