I picked up a lovely basil plant at the market yesterday, since the snails gnawed through my last one, and the whole car smelled so fantastic that I just had to find a way to infuse the flavor into a cocktail this week. This is how the process evolved.
The girls went out last week for a quick nosh, long chat and cocktails. Amanda and I were 1st to arrive and started off with our usual glass of red wine, to engrossed in our conversation to consider anything else. Heidi arrived, and not yet embroiled in our heady chat, went off the reservation and ordered a martini! A pink grapefruit martini!
Well that little martini lingered in the back of my mind all week and ran right into the scent of fresh basil that had been floating around since yesterday. Thus a basil ruby grapefruit cocktail was born. And by now you know I look for every opportunity to tweak anything with key limes!
Ruby Grapefruit Basil Martini
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1-2 tsp Lime Basil simple syrup
Lime Basil Syrup
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
Zest of 3 key limes, removed in strips with a vegetable peeler
1/2 cup fresh Key lime juice
1/4 cup water
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
Directions:
Bring sugar, zest, juice, and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let syrup stand, uncovered, 15 minutes.
Discard zest and transfer syrup to a blender. Add basil and blend 20 seconds. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl or glass measuring cup and cool.
Martini
In a shaker can, add vodka, grapefruit juice and lime basil syrup with ice and shake until very cold.
Pour into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a grapefruit twist and basil leaf.
Tip:
The leftover Lime Basil Syrup is great over fresh fruit or added to sparkling water for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 2 tsp Lime Basil simple syrup
- 3/4 cup sugar
- Zest of 3 key limes, removed in strips with a vegetable peeler
- 1/2 cup fresh Key lime juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
- Basil Lime Syrup: Bring sugar, zest, juice, and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let syrup stand, uncovered, 15 minutes.
- Discard zest and transfer syrup to a blender. Add basil and blend 20 seconds. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl or glass measuring cup and cool.
- Martini: In a shaker can, add vodka, grapefruit juice and lime basil syrup with ice and shake until very cold.
- Pour into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a grapefruit twist and basil leaf.
- Tip: The leftover Lime Basil Syrup is great over fresh fruit or added to sparkling water for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
This was a wonderfully refreshing and easy to make cocktail for a hot summer day. The basil added a delicious twist to it! Thanks LOTPA!