So baseball opening day is Sunday, April 3rd. Did you know this? Of course you knew this – even I did. Anyway, if we’re being honest with each other: baseball might not be my favorite sport (eek!) BUT I like going baseball games and hanging with friends, eating nachos and asking a million questions about what’s happening.

It’s not that I dislike baseball, it’s simply that I never understood it. I don’t ever remember my dad watching baseball growing up and when it came to playing baseball/softball in P.E. class, it was the most dreaded day of my life. I think I tried to use every excuse known to man to try and get out of participating. At first my problem with baseball was never being able to find an adult beverage that I enjoyed. Sure, if you love hot dogs and beer, baseball is perfect for you. But for someone like me who dislikes hot dogs and beer, it’s a bit challenging for me to survive a game. What I’m starting to love about baseball is that it’s getting really easy to find beverages other than beer and I’m beginning to understand the game just a little.

Here in Chattanooga, we have a minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts, and once in a while, my friends and I get together and head to the stadium to enjoy a game, which generally turns into John just explaining to me what’s happening on the field. I say all of this to say, baseball opening day is Sunday and I’m prepping for it by enjoying a pretty delicious cocktail. It’s the perfect cocktail (read: easy) if you’re having people over to watch a game. This lemongrass lookout is inspired by warm weather and Chattanooga’s minor league team.

Well…it’s also inspired by whiskey. Because everything we do involves whiskey. Not just any whiskey, Templeton Rye. Now, I love whiskey – I do – but I’m no expert in it (though I pretend to be). However, I am a fan of Templeton Rye. Before making this cocktail, I had to do a tasting on my own at home – duh. After having a few sips, I brainstormed a few ideas and I feel pretty confident in my concoction.

Are you ready?

Lemongrass Lookout – serves one


2oz Templeton Rye whiskey
1oz lemongrass simple syrup
1oz freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1/2 of an orange)

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until the shaker is frosty.

Pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange slices or lemongrass.

Lemongrass simple syrup

Bring equal parts sugar and water to a simmer. Note: if you want a less sugary simple syrup try 1 cup water and 1/4 sugar.

Chop a few stems of lemongrass and add it to your saucepan of simple syrup – let it steep for a while. It’ll smell like lemongrass and it should taste like lemongrass. If not, let it steep a little longer.

I picked a lemongrass simple syrup for a couple of reasons: (1) when I think of baseball, I think of beautifully manicured lawns lawns that are so green, it almost looks fake. (2) When I smelled the whiskey it reminded me (very slightly) of something grassy, which I thought was perfect.

So let’s cheers to baseball opening day and let’s root for our favorite teams. In my case, go Lookouts!