Sparkling Lemongrass Coolers

• MAKE-AHEAD

Ingredients

1. 4 plump lemongrass stalks, cut into 2-inch lengths, lightly crushed
2. 4 cups water
3. 1 cup sugar
4. 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
5. Ice cubes
6. Ginger beer or seltzer
7. Rum

1. In a saucepan, combine the lemongrass, water and sugar; bring to a boil, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat, cover and let steep until cool, about 3 hours. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the lemongrass. Stir in the lime juice.
2. Fill 8 tall glasses with ice. Add 1/2 cup of the syrup to each glass. Top off with ginger beer or seltzer and a shot of rum.