Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Citrus Basil Gin

 

Summer is in full swing, and the garden at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, is bursting with colors and flavors that remind us regularly of summer.  The tomatoes are slowly turning red, which is amazing considering how much rain we have gotten this Spring and early Summer.  The new herbs are coming in great, and I can hardly wait to enjoy all of them in new dishes and cocktails.

 

               This month I really wanted to feature St. Germain as one of the liquors in our cocktail and set out to find just the right mix to bring out the flavor of the Summer.  Basil is one of our all time favorite Summer herbs and does not disappoint in this mix.  The jalapenos really come out in this drink as well.  The longer you let the basil and jalapeno set in the Gin the stronger the flavor will be.  You could even go so far as to let it steep overnight if you really want to experience the flavor of those two items.

 

               The grapefruit adds a bit of tart to counteract the slight sting of the jalapeno in each sip.  The basil just adds that bit of Summer you are looking for on those warm Texas evenings sitting on the porch or back deck.  This drink is simple to make but complex in the flavors.  You won’t want to miss this one!

 

Citrus Basil Gin

 

2 ounces Gin

3-4 sliced jalapeno

4-6 basil leaves

2 ounces Grapefruit juice

1 ounce St. Germain

Club Soda (optional)

 

Add your jalapeno, basil and gin to a shaker cup and muddle the leaves and slices down to release the flavor.  Let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes.  Depending on how strong you want the basil and jalapeno to be.  Add ice to your shaker cup, then add in St. Germain and grapefruit juice.  Give it good shake.  Pour over iced filled, sugar or salt rimmed glass.  Garnish with a sprig of Basil.

 

               St. Germain is one of our favorite liqueurs to use, it is smooth and a little sweet.  Since the elderberries are slowly starting to ripen out along the road, I felt it was time to revisit this French creation.  Not only do we have some basil which is a personal summer time staple, we also have the use of the elderflower liqueur, St. Germain.

               We hope that you will enjoy this refreshing summer cocktail and as always drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Be sure to check out our video on how we made this drink on our YouTube channel.  Cheers from the Oaks Bed and Breakfast.

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita

     

    Summer is fast approaching and we here at the Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Sulphur Springs, Texas are counting down the days until Summer Vacation becomes a reality.  Until then we are whipping up some delicious and spicy Margaritas to enjoy on the back porch.  We happened to be hosting a party last week and the signature cocktail they wanted to serve was a spicy Margarita so I figured why not make that our cocktail of the month.  

    I will say when making your simple syrup the longer you can let it set the stronger the spice level will be in your drink.  I made mine and used it right away after it cooled a bit so it took a little time to build up on the spice level.  Depending on how spicy you want your drink to be might determine how long you let your simple syrup sit.  I would even go so far as to store my jalapeno and basil in the syrup overnight to really get the flavors into the syrup.   

    Since we made these with fresh squeezed lemons and limes there is a little bit of prep work that goes into getting ready for this drink.  The salt on your rim can be another place to add a little kick to your drink.  Find the premade salt or make your own to your desired salty and spicy taste. 

    This amount of ingredients made two drinks, so be sure to have  friend or a really big cup to enjoy your Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita.

Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita

2 Lemons, squeezed

3 limes, squeezed

2 ounces Tequila

1 ounce Jalapeno/Basil Simple Syrup

Pour everything into an ice filled shaker cup.  Shake well to combine, and pour over a salt rimmed glass filled with ice.  Garnish with lemon or lime slices, basil and jalapeno slices. This drink makes enough for two glasses, or one generously proportioned glass.

    We hope that you will try and love our Spicy Citrus Basil Margarita. You can add and remove items as you wish, but these are nice and tangy with the citrus as well as a late spiciness at the back of the drink.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Cheers!