Basil really does scream summer to us — mostly because it's so closely linked to tomatoes (in our minds, at least).
On a trip to Sonoma Valley last year, we kept seeing basil on cocktail menus. And we kept ordering said cocktails.
The basil was such a refreshing change from muddled mint. It has the ability to sweeten up more acidic things, like tomatoes, and yet, in cocktails, it had the opposite effect: Providing a slightly savory counterpoint to fruit or sweet liquor.
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The photo above is a Lillet Basil Cocktail from Martha Stewart that combines gin, Lillet Blanc, and basil and is garnished with cucumber and cinnamon sticks.
But most basil cocktails we found, including the ones we've drunk, are made with strawberries. We found this Strawberry Basil Martini recipe in Food and Wine, which includes gin and vodka as well as fresh lime juice.
Since strawberries are in season, we're going to play around with this combination and post a basil cocktail recipe over the weekend.
Anyone have suggestions?
Related: Summer Cocktail: The Cuke
(Image: Martha Stewart)
I am SO glad to hear that there really are cocktails made with basil. To explain, I have to share an embarrassing story: my mom had never had a mojito before, so I took it upon myself to make her one. I went to cut mint from her garden, and came back with sprigs of basil (my herbal distinction must have been off...). I had already pressed the basil into the cups and put in the rest of the ingredients (ok, we were out of limes, too, so I used tangerines)...and it wasn't until I handed her the drink that she asked why I used basil instead of mint! So...we had basil-tangerine mojitos. Needless to say, they were drinkable only because we kept adding more rum... interesting, but I'm thinking Martha's Lillet recipe will be verrry tasty.
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I had the *best* basil cocktail just last week at T-Rex BBQ in Berkeley. The details are a bit hazy, but it had thyme-infused vodka, basil, and lime, I think? It was sooooo good.
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I love basil mixed with lime juice in sparkling mineral water! perfectly refreshing!
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