The Orbit Room bar taught me what a proper drink should be like and that being a regular is well worth it. They also taught me how good basil and bourbon taste together. I've modified the drink to include Gin instead of bourbon but still love it very much, I hope you love this Cucumber Basil Gimlet Cocktail recipe too.
2cups packedfresh basil leavesplus more for garnish
For The Cucumber Juice:
4Persian cucumbersends trimmed and roughly chopped
1/2ouncefreshly-squeezed lime juicedivided
1teaspoongranulated sugar or honey
For The Cucumber Basil Gimlet Cocktail:
2ouncesHendricks Gin
3/4ouncecucumber juice
3/4ounceBasil simple syrup
Ice
Instructions
Make The Basil Simple Syrup: Whisk together 3/4 cup of water with 2/3 cups of sugar or honey in a small saucepan then place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, add the 2 cups of basil leaves, and set aside at room temperature to cool, at least 30 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh sieve, discard basil, then cover simple syrup, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours.
Make The Cucumber Juice: Combine cucumber, 1/4 ounce of the lime juice, and 1 teaspoon of sugar or honey in a mini food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Strain through a mesh sieve, pushing on the back to extract juices (you should have about 1/2 cup).
Make The Cocktail: Reserve one basil leaf for garnish then place remaining three basil leaves in a shaker and bruise a few times with a muddler. Add 3/4 ounce cucumber juice, 3/4 ounce Basil Simple Syrup, remaining 1/4 ounce lime juice and add ice. Shake until chilled then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Smack reserved basil leaf between your hands over the glass (to release essential oils) then float on the cocktail’s surface and serve.