Gin Basil Mojito
While mojito and mint go hand-in-hand, we’re doing what we do best by breaking tradition with our gin basil mojito for an herbal twist on the classic London mojito. The peppery sweetness of basil blends wonderfully with the gin in a way mint just can’t match. Basil transforms a basic summer cocktail into an instant garden party classic.
Ingredients
- 4 large basil leaves
- 1 medium lime quartered
- 2 fluid ounces London dry gin
- ¾ fluid ounce simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lime wedges and fresh basil sprig optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the lime and fresh basil to the shaker with the gin and simple syrup and muddle to juice the lime and bring out the oils from the lime rind and the basil.
- Now, add a few large ice cubes to the shaker and shake to chill the drink.
- Strain into a tall glass filled with ice using a Hawthorne strainer or fine mesh sieve.
- Add the club soda. Optionally garnish with fresh lime wedges and basil, and enjoy!
Notes
Simple syrup - You can easily make your own with a 1 to 1 ratio of granulated sugar and water. Heat the water over the stove, mix in the sugar until it’s fully dissolved, then let it cool before using or storing in the fridge. It’ll keep pretty much indefinitely.
Adding club soda - For a perfect mojito, use the bar spoon trick to get the club soda to the bottom of the glass instead of floating it on top. A traditional bar spoon has a twisted handle, which allows for the liquid to hug the handle as it’s being poured. All you have to do is turn the spoon upside down, stick it into the glass (all the way to the bottom), and pour the club soda slowly down the handle. The design of the spoon does the rest!
Garnishes - Typically, a mojito is garnished with fresh mint leaves so that you smell the mint right as you take a sip. We recommend doing the same here and garnishing your drink with fresh basil leaves so that the aroma hits you first. It makes the whole experience of sipping on this cocktail that much better and enhances the herbal flavor! You can also add lime wedges if you want an extra fancy-looking cocktail.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
