Homegrown: Herb Drinks & Cocktails
“Fresh herbs really belong anywhere you put them.” -Alex Guarnaschelli
With all this extra time at home, there’s never been a better time to perfect your favorite cocktail, or three! You don’t have to be a top notch mixologist to enjoy the best summer-ready mixed drinks on your own patio. Adding an earthy flair to any beverage with fresh herbs is easy and nearly impossible to mess up. Now grab a glass, and lets get drinkin’!
Using Herbs in Drinks
Common Herb Flavor Profiles/Pairings
Mint:
One the most popular drink additions
Cool and refreshing
Pairs well with lemon, lime, and most fruits
Basil:
Mild semi-sweet spice, anise flavor
Pairs well with berries, cucumber, lemon
Thyme:
Earthy Flavor with a hint of mint
Pairs well with grapefruit, lemon, and berries
Sage:
Distinct Flavor with hint of pine, citrus & pepper
Pairs well with apple, honey, & citrus
Cilantro:
Distinct lemon-ginger flavor with a hint of sage
Pairs well with spicy peppers & citrus fruits
Rosemary:
Fragrant lemon, woodsy flavor with a hint of pepper
Pairs well with lavender and citrus
Lavender:
Sweet, floral flavor
Pairs well with lemon, berries, & honey
Techniques
There are many different ways to add fresh herbs and complimentary flavors to a drink. For the recipes below, you just need to know about muddling and infusing.
“Muddle” :
to press ingredients against the side or bottom of glass to release flavors, using a muddler (or bottom of a wooden spoon if you don’t back a muddler).
Tip: Herbs are delicate, so don’t over-muddle. Just break them up enough to release the oils/juice and flavors.
“Infuse” :
to immerse herbs, spices, and fruits in your drink of choice and letting sit until the flavors have seeped into liquid.
Non-Boozy Drinks
Infused Waters, Teas, or Lemonades
Simply fill your jug/bottle of water or lemonade with any fresh herbs and fruits from the above list. I like to use at least one fruit for a little sweetness and at least two herbs for a more complex taste. The flavors will deepen throughout the day. Mix and match! Try out multiple combos to see what you like best. A couple of my favorites are lavender lemonade and cucumber water with lemon and mint.
Tip: Turn it up a notch by using your favorite sparkling water!
Cocktails
Mandy & Megan’s Gin and Tonic
Our official friendship drink! Trust us, we’ve experimented plenty with this one and it.is.delicious. You’re welcome!
2 oz gin (Mandy likes Bombay Sapphire. I’m a Hendrick’s girl)
2 lime wedges
Tonic water
½ cucumber, sliced into rounds or ribbons
Handful of basil leaves
1 sprig mint
-Muddle 3 mint leaves, 3 basil leaves, and 1-2 slices of cucumber in bottom of glass.
-Add gin and stir.
-Add ice to fill about ¾ of the glass, top off with tonic water.
-Garnish with lime wedge and additional cucumber, mint, basil to taste.
Cilantro Jalapeno Margarita
Refreshing with a kick. The perfect summer drink, especially with tacos or chips and salsa! Feel free to use your favorite pre-made margarita mix for a quick cocktail.
1 lime wedge
1 oz fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno, sliced into ¼ inch rounds
2 sprigs of cilantro
1 ½ oz tequila
1 oz Cointreau
½ oz simple syrup
Optional: Salt, sugar, chili powder, or Tajin to rim the glass
-Muddle leaves of 1 sprig cilantro and 1 slice jalapeno in bottom of cocktail shaker or pint glass.
-Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice.
-Cover and shake.
-Pour into glass, garnish with lime wedge and additional jalapeno to taste.
*Alcohol enhances the spice of the jalapenos, so tread lightly. You can always add more, but can’t remove the spice once it’s there.
Disclaimer: Our pup, Penny, stole my jalapeno off the counter so I had to use a red chile pepper for the photo!
Rosemary Old Fashioned
An herbal spin on this classic whiskey cocktail.
2 oz rye whiskey
¼ oz simple syrup or rosemary simple syrup (recipe below)*
2 dashes of orange bitters, or bitter of choice
1 orange peel slice
Several sprigs (4-5) of rosemary
-In a rocks glass, combine the whiskey, simple syrup (regular or rosemary), and orange bitters. Add ice and stir. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and orange peel.
*Optional: Rosemary Simple Syrup
-Combine equal parts water and white sugar in a pot on stove.
-Add 3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary, and heat until simmering.
-Once simmering, remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes.
-Remove rosemary sprigs after 10 minutes.
Get creative and try creating an original concoction of your own. If it fails, who cares? The fun is in the experimentation. See you next week to discuss how to turn a boring salad into something you actually ENJOY eating!
Slainte!
-Megan