Recipe: Herbal Elixirs

Mixologists often use fresh herbs to spruce up spring and summer cocktail menus. Alex Ettinger, bartender at Basso, shares his impressions of a few of his favorite warm-weather drinks.

by

Peter Rabbit

“The ingredients might sound odd, but this is one of the best of the bunch.”

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces silver tequila
  • 1 ounce carrot juice
  • ½ ounce fresh lime
  • Optional:
  • ½ ounce Solerno, a blood orange liqueur
  • 4 basil leaves
  • 2 ounces ginger beer  

Instructions: Combine all but ginger beer in shaker with ice; shake and pour into stemless wine glass. Top with ginger beer.

Cooler Than You

“Gin and tonic beware…this may well be the quintessential summer cocktail.”

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • ½ ounce fresh lemon
  • 4 sprigs mint
  • ½ ounce cucumber juice  

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice; shake and strain into a highball glass.

I’m Sprung

“A common ingredient in savory recipes, sage isn’t typically found in many cocktail recipes.”

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces of vodka
  • ½ ounce St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)
  • ½ ounce limoncello
  • 2 or 3 sage leaves
  • 2 ounces Prosecco (or another sparkling wine)  

Instructions: Combine all but Prosecco in shaker with ice; shake and strain into flute. Top with Prosecco.

▸ Connect: Basso, 7036 Clayton, 314-932-7820.

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