When basil season finally arrives, this perfect summer highball is one of my favorite ways to use it. You start by muddling fresh basil leaves from the farmers’ market, and then add lime and pineapple juices, gin, and simple syrup, topped with lime sparkling water. The color is beautiful, and the fresh aromatics shine through.
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces gin
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
8 basil leaves
Top with lime sparkling water
Lime peel and edible flowers for garnish (optional)
Directions
Muddle basil leaves in a cocktail shaker.
Add gin, lime juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup to the shaker with ice.
Shake to combine, and then strain over fresh ice into highball glass.
Top with lime sparkling water.
Garnish with lime peel and edible flowers, if using.
The Strawberry Daydream Recipe:
This easy gin cocktail provides all the flavors of summer, plus brightness from two types of citrus. Make it at home with this recipe.
The Strawberry Gin Sour Recipe:
Spot some nice-looking berries at your local grocer or farmers' market? Mix up this silky gin sour, made with fresh lemon and orange liqueur.
The Pineapple Negroni Recipe:
A little bit of pineapple juice adds just the right amount of tropical sweetness you didn't know you needed to this classic cocktail.
The Jasmine:
The Jasmine serves as a riff on the Pegu Club made with Campari and lemon juice. Check out the recipe here!
The Gojira Recipe:
When developing this cocktail for a Japanese restaurant in New York, Fred Dexheimer was inspired by the classic Southside, a refreshing gin-based drink .