Abundance is a tricky thing. Just what do you do when there is more than you need? Well, assuming you are not a grasshopper, you can always plan for the future and lay up stock against times of austerity. You can share your bounty with friends and neighbors, that is always a good policy. Or, you can go the more bacchanalian route and gorge yourself in a celebration of overindulgence and fully sated regret, like I often do. They’re all viable options, some better than others, but each with its own price and reward. Personally, I like all three choices and I hate being limited so let’s just push forward and see what happens as we stand and make the Gin Tomatini.

I always think of autumn and the harvest when it comes to times of abundance but that is not quite true. All summer long our garden provides in successive waves of bounty, mostly based on how well we planned our planting and the vagaries of fire and rain, in the guise of sun and summer storms. Last year we chose poorly and the heavens did not cooperate, so we only had a few small tomatoes from our couple of plants. Sure, there were bacon and tomato sandwiches but not in the style or number to which we have grown accustomed. Luckily, we were able to rely on the kindness of neighbors and we did not go hungry, but there is something special about eating your own homegrown tomatoes.

Laura went a little harder this year, planting quite a few more Heirloom Cherokee Purples for us and a nice assortment of Pink Girls and Better Boys for Grandma. To say that her efforts were rewarded would be an understatement. Those first few began to turn red on the vine right on schedule for the 4th of July and they have not let up. We have eaten bacon and tomato sandwiches on fresh sourdough more times than I can count in the last few weeks, made garden fresh salsa for our enchiladas and added thick slices of fresh picked tomatoes to our corn, burgers and pretty much anything else that has crossed our table. It really is an embarrassment of riches that we have been happy to share with family and friends. Naturally, after harvesting another double armful this morning, my thoughts turned to a refreshing cocktail, a little something to combat the humidity and help with that all-important hydration.

The inspiration for this drink comes to us from the good folks in the marketing department at Kikkoman. They created the Tomatini to help introduce their Umami Joy Sauce, a gluten and soy free alternative to traditional soy sauce made from fermented tomatoes. It is intriguing to say the least and quite flavorful. They suggested using it to make a vodka based martini. I was intrigued, so I tried it and found it wanting. It was tasty, but I felt like such a strong ingredient wanted a more interesting spirit so here we are, making a riff on their riff.

This one takes a little prep work, but it is oh so simple and totally worth it. Step one is to grab your large tin and pop in one medium tomato, quartered; I went with a freshly picked Pink Girl. Muddle it fairly aggressively to release all those juices and then strain your tomato water into your small tin and toss the seeds and skins. To your small tin add 2 ounces of Gin, I went with Gin Mare from Spain and its unique blend of olive, thyme, rosemary and basil, 1/4 ounce of Kikkoman Umami Joy Sauce, a teaspoon of dry vermouth, I used Martini & Rossi and a pinch of smoked paprika. Throw in some of that artisanal ice and give it a good shake to the beat of “Get It ‘Fore It’s Gone” by Pokey LaFarge, before double straining into a cocktail glass and garnishing with some fresh mozzarella and a tomato wedge on a pick. If you can get your partner to hand place the herbs and spices on the mozzarella in an aesthetically pleasing manner, all the better.

So, did it work? Yes. So much yes. That Spanish gin pairs perfectly with fresh tomato and the umami sauce just brings it all together. Rich and savory with a great depth of flavor, this is like summer in a glass, but with a refreshing, slightly astringent bite on the back side of the taste. While this mix might not be great with every gin, that Mediterranean inspired Gin Mare really opens up the flavor and makes something special. I could see hitting this one with a splash of balsamic vinegar or even a teaspoon of a rich hot sauce like Captain Rodney’s Corazon del Fuego, for a spicier feel, but it is pretty solid as it stands, and isn’t it pretty?

With our kitchen counter piled up with fresh tomatoes it is easy to take them for granted, but I am trying to be mindful. In just a month or two those vines will dwindle down producing less and less, until one cold night comes and there will be no more. We will can some and enjoy the fruits of our labors in rich tomato soups come fall and winter and talk about how good this harvest was and how much we enjoyed those dinners with all of us around the table. We will look forward longingly till next summer and hope that we can take part in this little ritual again.

As time passes, it is hard to look at these good times together and not see that, like the tomatoes, they also have an expiration date. Just a few years ago, my grandfather was sitting at this same table, tomato sandwich in hand, reminding us to “lift and eat quick, lest it fall through the crust.” None of us knew then that it was his last summer with us and none of us knows when ours will come. There are a lot of things going on in the world right now that would give any free thinking person pause; a lot of chaos and unrest out there, a lot of things that need to be fixed. There are dark days behind and more will come, but as Samwise said, “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” He was right. Fresh tomato sandwiches, time spent with loved ones; yeah, there’s some good in this world. So, take a moment and look around, find that bounty in your life right now and cherish it. Hold it close and if you have some to spare, share it with your neighbor, cause we are still all in this together. Take care of yourselves and those around you and, as always, stay safe, stay sane and stay hydrated, my friends.