Drink Inventor

This cocktail is wonderfully addicting!  It’s the perfect summer drink, light and delicious with a brightness from the basil and zesty lime juice.  The basil and sugar are gently muddled first, to release the herb’s sweet flavor.

Try this out with a hearty dinner, or it also goes well with appetizers for a casual cocktail party.  The recipe scales easily, so you can make it in pitchers for guests to enjoy.  Scroll down for the sized up recipe.  Once you have a taste, you’ll agree that this one is a winner!

The Lime Basil cocktail is sometimes also called a Bolshoi Basil Cocktail, paying homage to the Russian heritage of producing excellent vodka.

Lime Basil Cocktail

Serves: 1  Prep: 10 min

Ingredients

• 4 oz vodka
• 3 oz fresh lime juice
• 3 fresh basil sprigs
• 2 tsp sugar
• soda water
• sprigs of basil, for garnish
• lime slices, for garnish

Directions: Muddle the basil and sugar together in a highball glass.  If you’re new to making cocktails at home, this is how you muddle: it means you’re going to drop the basil leaves into the glass, and add the sugar.  Using a muddler, or a wooden spoon, lightly bruise the basil leaves to release the herb’s essential oils to flavor the cocktail.  There’s no need to tear the leaves into pieces, when you’re muddling.  The slight rubbing and crushing of the basil leaves will impart enough of the essence.

Now, fill the glass with ice, add the vodka and lime juice and stir.  Finish with a splash of soda water.  Garnish the drink with a sprig of basil and lime slices.

Lime Basil Cocktails by the Pitcher

Serves: about 6  Prep:  10 min, plus chilling

Ingredients

• 2 bottles of vodka, chilled
• 4 1/2 cups lime juice
• 1 cup, loosely packed basil leaves
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup soda water
• ice cubes
• lime wedges, for garnish

Directions:  Place the basil leaves and sugar in a pitcher, and muddle together.  Add the vodka, lime juice and soda water and stir to combine.  If serving immediately, add ice to your pitcher to thoroughly chill the cocktail mixture.  Or when serving, add ice to the glasses and pour the lime basil cocktail over the top.  You can make this ahead of time, and store in the refrigerator until guests arrive.

We love the combination of basil with citrus juices in cocktails.  If you’re a fan too, try our amazing recipe for Basil Strawberry Lemonade With Vodka punch, or the straightforward but so delicious Vodka Lemonade.

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