Strawberry-Basil Smash

Jun 25, 2015 in drinks, plate. Read the original on: http://www.perpetuallychic.com/

With strawberry season in full swing, Iâ€™ve been finding ways to incorporate berries into just about every mealâ€“breakfast, lunch or dinner. So a strawberry cocktail only made sense to become my current drink of choice for summertime evenings. I love the delicious pairing of super-sweet strawberries and savory basil, and this freshly muddled cocktail only takes a minute to whip up. I used a botanical gin, but you could easily sub a good bourbon in its place if thatâ€™s your preference. The result will be the same light, refreshing summer sip. Make the simple syrup ahead and keep it in the fridge so you can make this drink whenever the mood strikes.

INGREDIENTS

2 ripe strawberries, stems removed, plus 1 for garnish
2 basil leaves, plus 1 for garnish
1 lemon wedge
1 teaspoon simple syrup (see recipe below)
1.5 ounces of St. George Botanivore Gin
1 ounce Dolin Dry Vermouth

DIRECTIONS

For the simple syrup:

Combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let sit 10 minutes.

Once cooled to room temp, transfer to a small mason jar and store in the refrigerator.

For the cocktail:

In a cocktail shaker, add strawberries, basil, lemon, and simple syrup. Muddle.
Add gin and vermouth. Fill shaker with ice, then shake vigorously.
Pour into an ice-filled cocktail glass. Garnish with strawberry and basil.

Read the original on: http://www.perpetuallychic.com/