Florida Charred Strawberry, Starfruit, & Whiskey Punch

Ingredients

Preparation

Preheat the oven to high broil setting. Trim the tops off strawberries and lay cut-side down on a baking pan. Place pan on top oven rack and broil until strawberry tips just begin to char. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature. In a blender or food processor, purée the cooled strawberries, lemon juice, 2 slices of carambola, simple syrup and thyme leaves, stripped from their stems. Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer.

Fill a cocktail shaker three quarters with ice and add the whiskey, strained strawberry mixture and pineapple juice. Shake vigorously until chilled and frosty. From the shaker, strain the chilled cocktail into 2 serving glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish with additional fresh strawberries, a sprig of fresh thyme and slices of carambola.