Part of our ongoing series in toasting our favorite small presses and magazines. This week, we raise a glass to Mount Island.

Juice of 1 lemon
1.5 oz. whiskey (we used WhistlePig; any other will be just as good)
10-12 mint leaves
1.5 cup cold water
1 tbsp. honey, plus more to drizzle

Blend together the lemon juice, mint leaves, water, and honey. It's okay if the mint leaves aren't completely blended—choppy flecks of green make it look even better.

Pour the lemony mixture into a shallow dish, and place in the freezer. Three or four times over the next 2 hours, take a fork and break up the mixture as it freezes (you're essentially making a granita, an Italian shaved ice). Once it has reached the texture of a coarse snow cone, scoop it out of the bowl and place it in a cold glass of your choice. Then, gently pour the whiskey around the mound of ice.

Drizzle with honey and garnish with another sprig of mint. As the ice melts, the drink will change, shifting from a whiskey sipper with a hint of mint, to a sweet, minty lemonade.

For a non-alcoholic (but just as delicious!) version, substitute 3 oz. iced tea for the whiskey.

Originally posted August 14, 2020.