Strawberry Cosmo

First, make the strawberry syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the chopped strawberries, sugar, and 3/4 cup of water.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until it has slightly thickened.

Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring cup or bowl. Let it cool completely.

To make the cocktail, start with a 1-liter bottle of vodka. Pour out 1 3/4 cups of the vodka and reserve it for another use.

To the remaining vodka in the bottle, add the orange liqueur.

Add the freshly squeezed lime juice.

Add 1/2 cup of the cooled strawberry syrup.

Finally, add the remaining 1/4 cup of water.

Secure the cap on the bottle and shake well to combine all the ingredients.

Place the bottle in the freezer to chill until you're ready to serve.

To serve, simply pour the chilled Strawberry Cosmo into a martini glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry if desired.