I can’t complain about the jungle of basil that’s growing in my backyard right now—my salads, sandwiches, and sauces have all improved with the addition of this fresh-picked herb—but I’ve been looking for a new way to make use of my basil leaves. Culinary blog Foodie NYC offers some basil inspiration, with a recent post about refreshing summer beverages, including a cocktail made with gin, seltzer, and basil simple syrup—but after a little more web-searching, I learned that the list of booze-with-basil recipes doesn’t end there.
The Art of Drink’s blueberry, basil, and rum cocktail is tempting, and I’m intrigued by Fine Living’s vodka-spiked basil lemonade, but I’m not sure about this strawberry fizz, which suggests a splash of balsamic vinegar along with some basil leaves. Guess there’s only one way to find out if vinegar belongs in a fruity, herb-infused vodka drink: I’ve got to break out some basil, raid the liquor cabinet, and start sipping.
