Vodka Ginger Lemonade

Bring 1 cup water, sugar, and ginger to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir constantly about 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

Pour sparkling water, lemon juice, vodka, and 1 cup of the ginger simple syrup over ice in a large pitcher; stir gently. Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately.

Serve It in Style: For an eye-catching addition to your table, serve your drinks in a samovar. Traditionally used to heat water for Russian tea, samovars can be used for cold drinks, too. Diamond Cut Samovar, suggested retail $410, by GO Home Ltd.; e-mail info@gohomeltd.com for retailers.