Sip on Summer: Herbal Cocktails with Homegrown Botanicals
With the heat of summer ramping up, it’s time to turn to our favorite way of cooling down! From our garden to your glass, these cocktail recipes are crafted using homegrown herbs, botanicals, and fruits grown at Fairview Garden Center.
Here are a couple of bevvies we’ve concocted to make the most of our homegrown botanicals.
The “Gimme Gimme”
- 2 basil leaves (muddled/torn)
- 1/2 oz basil simple syrup**
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 2 oz gin*
Shake vigorously with ice, double strain (using both a Hawthorne and tea strainer to catch any loose ice or basil bits), and serve up with a basil leaf garnish.
This cocktail is versatile and can be served with ice and seltzer for longer-lasting refreshment or made non-alcoholic by substituting the gin with an herbal tea, like hibiscus or rose tea.
*We like to infuse our gin with dried butterfly pea blossoms for their mild flavor and vivid purple color. The shade changes depending on the pH of the mixer! For a lovely premade butterfly pea gin, try Empress 1908 Indigo Gin.
**To make simple syrup: mix equal parts water and sugar, heat until the sugar is fully dissolved, then cool completely (store up to 3 weeks). To infuse: add a handful of fresh herbs or fruit of your choice while the syrup is cooking, then strain before storing.
The “Briar Patch”
- 1 sprig thyme leaves & 6 fresh blackberries, muddled
- 1 tsp honey or 1/2 oz honey syrup
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 2 oz bourbon or rye
Shake with ice, strain, and serve over crushed ice in an old-fashioned glass with a fresh sprig of thyme for garnish. For a fancy garnish, pierce a blackberry and a dried lemon slice with the thyme sprig and lay it across the top of the glass.
“Son of a Beach”
- 1/2 oz Thai chili syrup (blend 3 Thai red peppers with 1 quart simple syrup)
- 1/2 oz calamondin (or lime) juice
- 2 oz watermelon juice
- 2 oz tequila
Shake with ice, pour into a glass, and serve with an almost-too-large watermelon slice. Love life!
The “Modern Era”
This last one isn’t botanical, but it’s a personal favorite that I think you’ll love.
- 1/4 oz coffee liqueur
- 1/2 oz crème de cacao
- 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 2 oz tequila
Serve up, double strain, and garnish with a lemon twist.
Enjoy these refreshing drinks, made with love and the finest homegrown ingredients from Fairview Garden Center!