Spiced Rum and Ginger Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 limes
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar
• 5 whole allspice
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
• 1 piece (1 inch) peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• Ice cubes*
• 3/4 cup golden rum
• 3 cups club soda
• 1 lime, cut into wedges (optional)*
• 6 cinnamon sticks (optional)*

Directions

1. Using a vegetable peeler, cut long strips of peel from one lime, avoiding white pith.
2. Juice both limes. There should be 1/3 cup lime juice. Set aside.
3. To prepare syrup, combine water, brown sugar, allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger and lime peel in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour.
4. Strain syrup through a sieve. Stir in lime juice. Refrigerate until serving.
5. Add ice to each glass. Pour about 4 tbsp syrup, 2 tbsp rum and 1/2 cup club soda over ice in each glass.