Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Spicy Grapefruit Margarita

 

Over here at The Oaks bed and breakfast, we love a good margarita, and often the spicier the better.  This month we are bringing to your bar, a Spicy Grapefruit Margarita that is paired with a jalapeno and lemon basil. 

 

               We kicked up the spice a bit by zesting the jalapeno to create more kick with this summer special, and the garnish with the lemon basil just adds a little kick of citrus to an already delicious drink.  Another key component to this drink is to use only fresh squeezed juice.  Juice that grapefruit and lime directly into your shaker cup, when mixing this delightful drink. 

 

               Of course, you can dial up your sweetness and spice by adding more honey or jalapeno or less.  Make this drink your own and enjoy it with friends.  You can even make it a mocktail by removing the tequila and orange liquor.  I would splash in some nonalcoholic  orange bitters to grab that flavor and an additional amount of grapefruit juice to help fill the glass. 

 

Spicey Grapefruit Margarita

Serving size 2 drinks 

½ cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

3 TBLS fresh squeezed lime juice

2 TBLS agave or honey

3 oz white tequila

2 oz orange liquor

Salt to rim the glass

Lemon basil for garnish

 

Before you mix your drink prepare your glass.  Rub a lime wedge or grapefruit wedge around the glass and then salt with your favorite option.  Take all your liquid ingredients and pour into a shaker cup that has been filled with ice.  Vigorously shake your drink to mix together.  Then pour it over your salted, ice filled glass.  Garnish with grapefruit, lemon basil, lime or jalapeno slices.

 

               Make this drink your own and mix it up with different bases to find the one you like the best.  Increase the sweetness as you desire or decrease to make your drink more tart.  Mix in additional jalapeno for extra spice or remove it to eliminate all spice.  Either way, this drink will be a summer favorite for sure.

 

               As always please drink responsibly by having a designated driver.  We hope you will let us know if you make this cocktail and tell us which you like it the best.  Cheers!

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!

    

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Citrus Basil Margarita

 

    This month for our herb infused cocktail series we are featuring basil.  We currently have four kinds of basil in our garden and each one produces a different flavor to this wonderful herb.  We love to use it is summer dishes, that are cooked as well as those that use the herb raw.  For this this drink we chose two of the varieties to muddle in our mix.

    Basil has been used in the past to help ease stomach issues but the most common use of basil is to make pesto.  Pesto is such a delicious condiment for food use, that while in season you could hardly make enough.  Although it can be time consuming to make pesto, the end result is worth the wait.

    Today we are not making pesto but rather a citrus basil margarita.  Who does not like to make a Margarita to help cool down on those warm summer nights? 

Citrus Basil Margarita

8-10 Basil leaves, muddled

1 medium Lemon

1/2 Lime

1 oz. Tequila

1 oz. Simple Syrup

    Place your basil leaves in the bottom of your shaker cup.  Muddled them quite a bit to release the oils and flavors from the basil.  Squeeze in your lemon and lime.  Add in the Tequila and simple syrup.  Top it off with ice.  Shake until the container is frosted.  Strain  your liquid into a salt rimmed glass.  Garnish with basil and lime.  Enjoy!

    

    As usual if you want to make your own simple syrup, we recommend making it was some basil as well to really bring out the flavor of the basil in the drink.  We love basil so that is what we did when we made this drink.

    We hope that you enjoy this version of a margarita, so simple and refreshing.  If you want to make it a mocktail, just add more lemon and lime, and withhold the tequila.  Enjoy responsibly and always select a designated driver.  Cheers from the Oaks bed and breakfast!