Let's be honest. There's nothing easier than pouring a vodka tonic or a rum and coke, but with a little effort at the start of your drinking session, you'll have delicious cocktails in no time throughout the evening.
If you've been following On the Sauce from the start, thank you. If you haven't, you might've missed one of my favorite — and fairly simple — cocktails. The very first drink we showcased is one I've been making ever since a friend gave me several bunches of basil. With no idea what to do with them, I ended up testing out a basil simple syrup. That experiment turned into basil lemonade, which morphed into Bourbon Basil Lemonade. Though some folks may see it as more of a summertime recipe, I think the drink feels right anytime the temps are high.
I bring up the 2015 throwback because while brainstorming cocktail recipes with blueberries (these little teeth-staining morsels that vary from tart to sweet are in season), it dawned on me: Why not mix up a new take on the BBL? Twists on originals are always fun, right? And if Puff Daddy can make a career out of it, let's do this.
You'll need fresh basil for this week's drink, and I suggest picking up one of those potted varieties from your local grocery store. Those of us adult enough to keep the plant alive — I'm not, but I assume you are — can enjoy the beverage all summer long, experimenting with whatever fruit is in season. Our BBL-inspired cocktail retains the sweet, tasty flavor of basil without having to whip up a syrup; a little muddling is all it takes.
That being said, don't skip the recipe's featured sour mix, a homemade ingredient well worth the effort — if you can even call it that, considering it calls for four ingredients (one of which is water) and five minutes of your time. Once you make sour mix at home, you'll never go back to store-bought brands; there's simply no substitute for freshly squeezed citrus.
I used Two Stars Bourbon from Louisville, Kentucky, which Total Wine has on sale at the moment, in case you're looking for whiskey advice. For my taste, Two Stars is a little too harsh to drink on the rocks, but it's perfect for mixing. Old Grand-Dad is also a good (and cheap) choice for mixing, and I wouldn't get any fancier than Bulleit.
Makes 1
Homemade Sour Mix:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3-5 limes)
In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil and add sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside and allow to cool. Pour lemon and lime juices into a cup or small container. Once cool, combine simple syrup with juice mixture. Store covered and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Makes 3 cups.
Cocktail:
10-12 fresh basil leaves
5-10 fresh blueberries
Pinch of sugar
1 1/2 ounces bourbon (I used Two Stars)
3 ounces homemade sour mix
In a rocks glass, add basil, blueberries and sugar. (Sugar helps with breaking down the basil, but don't overdue it — you risk making it too sweet.) Muddle until ingredients are beat up. Fill glass with ice, then add bourbon and sour mix. Using a bar spoon, stir until cocktail is mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds.
Follow CL contributor Chris Fasick (@cfasick) on Twitter, or email him at cdfasick@gmail.com if there's a cocktail or recipe you'd like featured.
This article appears in Apr 6-13, 2017.