Summerthyme Screwdriver

The simple Screwdriver is an essential tool in the cocktail kit. Composed of vodka and orange juice, it’s tall, fortifying and almost impossible to screw up. Plus, it provides a wallop when a Mimosa just won’t do. But add a few bells and whistles, like fresh herbs and a bittersweet Italian liqueur, and you have the makings of a summer blockbuster.

The Summerthyme Screwdriver is more than a solid pun. It’s a refreshing cocktail that improves the classic Screwdriver with thyme sprigs, Aperol, lemon juice and club soda. The thyme adds an undercurrent of earthy florals, while low-alcohol Aperol infuses the drink with notes of rhubarb and bitter orange. Hand-squeezed lemon juice brightens the whole affair, and club soda provides hydrating effervescence.

Don’t expect to order this at your local brunch spot. Instead, you’ll want to make it at home, a simple feat that requires a pitcher and easy-to-source ingredients. Build it right in the pitcher, and you’ll have a batch on hand to pour for friends as you shake off the prior night’s cobwebs. Serve this with breakfast, brunch or by the pool—and consider your day saved.