Ingredients:

  • & Black Pepper to taste
  • & Mint Sprigs, for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Make the Ginger Syrup: Combine water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
  2. Steep and Cool Syrup: Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out ginger solids; chill syrup completely.
  3. Assemble Drinks: In a pitcher, combine chilled ginger syrup and fresh lime juice. Fill tall glasses with ice, pour 2-3 Tbsp of the mix per glass, top with cold sparkling water, stir briefly, and garnish.
  4. Preheat Oven & Prep Salmon: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pat salmon fillets completely dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  5. Make Glaze Base: Whisk together maple syrup, bourbon, Dijon, cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.
  6. First Bake: Drizzle salmon lightly with olive oil. Place on the prepared sheet. Bake for 8 minutes.
  7. Reduce Glaze: While salmon bakes, pour the entire glaze mixture into a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened (it should coat the back of a spoon).
  8. Glaze and Finish: Remove salmon from the oven. Brush half the glaze over the fillets. Return to the oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes.
  9. Final Brush and Rest: Remove salmon. Brush with the remaining glaze. Allow to rest for 2 minutes before serving immediately alongside the chilled Ginger-Lime Sparkler.