Because I don’t have any mint.
I wanted to make a cocktail for you guys. I wanted to use my fancy mint julep cup. I didn’t have mint. I had extra basil. This is my life. We roll with it (well I mean we should roll with it. I personally throw a fit and cry and then roll with it. To each their own right?).
This is a pretty drink. It’s a fairly easy drink. You can impress your friends. It has bourbon. We’re into short sentences this week. So here we go.
What you need:
-½ cup sugar (we’re going to make a simple syrup with it. It’s gonna make more than we need for one drink. You’re gonna have to calm down and let me finish).
-Basil (one good handful or bunch, plus some pretty leaves for garnish. This is not a precise measurement. We don’t care).
-One squeeze fresh orange juice (this is pretty much optional. I had an orange. I though it may taste yummy. I was not wrong. It just means you get to eat an orange. It will keep you from getting scurvy).
-1.5 oz. (one shot glass) Bourbon (any kind you chose. Just chose a good one).
-Splash of soda water (this is also optional. I just like things fizzy and if I like it, it must be good).
-½ cup water (this is also for that syrup I mentioned).
-Crushed ice (enough to fill your glass. You can make this in a blender or food processor. You can also put it in a zip lock bag and hit it with a hammer… which is good for stress… like the kind of stress caused when your readers don’t buy the food processor you told them to… It’s fine).
OK. Let’s start with the hard part. The simple syrup. Please hold all questions til’ the end of class kids. This is a tough one for sure.
In a small sauce pan, add the ½ cup sugar, the ½ cup water and almost all the basil (save some of the pretty leaves for garnish).
Heat on medium/high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Set aside (God I love setting things aside and allow to cool completely).
Once cool, strain out the basil and keep in an air tight container (one drink uses 1 oz. so the rest can be stored up to a month, if it lasts that long).
In the bottom of a glass (or that super amazing mint julep cup you got as a wedding present) add 1 oz. of the basil simple syrup (this is going to smell amazing. Don’t stick your nose in it. It’s sticky. That’s gross).
Add crushed ice to the top of the glass (or cubes if you’re lazy. Just know I’m judging you).
Add a squeeze of orange juice to 1.5 oz. (a shot glass full) of bourbon.
Refrain from drinking this shot and pour it on top of your crushed ice and basil syrup situation (it’s kinda like a boozy snow cone and friends, we are here for it!).
Top with a splash of club soda or seltzer.
Stir a little with a straw or swizzle stick or your finger (wash your damn hands first!).
Add a basil leave for garnish (when making a mint julep it is often said that clapping the mint leaves in your hand to release the oils is a best practice. SO do this to your basil leaf because we are fancy OK??? Then add it to your drink).
Drink! …slowly because bourbon is no joke kids!
Any questions? No? Of course not because you’re probably drunk by now! Good! Enjoy!
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