Lucille’s Garden Recipe Book – Cocktail Corner

Mint Cocktails

Mint Julep:

• 8 mint leaves
• ¼ oz. simple syrup
• 2 oz. of bourbon
• Mint sprig for garnish

Recipe:

1.   In a rocks glass or julep cup, muddle mint leaves and simple syrup.
2.   Add in bourbon and pack the glass with ice.
3.   Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
4.   Garnish with a mint sprig and enjoy!

Mojito:

• 3 mint leaves
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• 2 oz. white rum
• ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
• Club soda
• Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish

  Recipe:

1.   Lightly muddle mint with simple syrup in a shaker.
2.   Add rum, lime juice and ice and give a shake.
3.   Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
4.   Top with club soda.
5.   Garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.  

Basil Cocktails

Gimlit:

• 5 large basil leaves
• 1 ½ oz. gin
• ¾ oz. fresh lime juice
• ½ oz. simple syrup

Recipe:

1.   Muddle 4 basil leaves in a shaker.
2.   Add gin, lime juice and simple syrup, fill with ice and shake.
3.   Strain into a chilled coup or other small glass.
4.   Garnish with a basil leaf.

Muddled Strawberry Basil Cocktail:

• 3 strawberries, quartered
• 2 basil leaves
• 1 tbsp. of honey
• ½ fresh lime juice
• 2 oz. vodka or gin
• Splash of club soda

Recipe:

1.   Muddle strawberries, basil, honey and lime juice in a shaker or glass.
2.   Add vodka (or gin) and ice and shake. 
3.   Pour into glass and top with club soda.  
4.   Garnish with fresh strawberry and basil leaf. 

Cucumber Cocktail

Cucumber Martini: 

• 3 slices of cucumber, plus thin slice for garnish 
• 2 ½ oz. vodka or gin
• ½ oz. dry vermouth

Recipe:

1.   Muddle cucumber slices in a shaker.
2.   Add vodka (or gin) and vermouth.
3.   Swirl a bit to combine, then add ice and shake.
4.   Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Infused Alcohols 

You can also wow your guests with hand infused alcohol! This sounds very fancy, and yet they are surprisingly easy to make and a great way to get creative in the kitchen. Simply steep your favorite herb in your alcohol of choice for at least a month in a cool dry space. Rosemary whisky, cilantro tequila, ginger vodka – the sky’s the limit! Try out different combinations until you find your favorite.

Sage Cocktails

Bourbon and Sage Cocktail:

• ¾ oz. fresh lemon juice
• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. sage simple syrup
• Sage leaves and lemon wheel to garnish

Recipe:

1.   In an ice filled rocks glass, add lemon juice, bourbon and simple syrup.
2.   Stir to combine.
3.   Garnish with lemon wheel and sage leaves. 

The Elder Sage Cocktail:

• 2 oz. gin
• 1 oz. St. Germaine elderflower liquor
• 1 oz. grapefruit juice
• 3 fresh sage leaves
• Mineral water

  Recipe:

1. Add gin, elderflower liquor, grapefruit juice and sage leaves to a shaker.
2.   Fill with ice and shake.
3.   Pour into a Collins glass and top with mineral water.
4.   Garnish with a sage leaf.  

And if you’re really feeling fun, try a cocktail combining a few of our selected herbs!

Spicy Cucumber Mint Margarita:

• Course salt for optional rim
• 2 ½ oz. reposado tequila 
• ½ orange liqueur
• 2 oz. of fresh lime juice
• ½ cup of chopped cucumber, peeled and seeded
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 6 mint leaves, chopped
• 2 dashes of your favorite hot sauce
• Cucumber slice for garnish

Recipe:

1.   Rim 2 margarita glasses with salt, if you prefer.
2.   In a blender, combine tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, cucumber, mint, sugar, hot sauce and ice and blend for 1 minute.
3.   Pour into rimmed glasses and garnish with a cucumber slice.

Sage Lady:

• 3 cucumber slices
• 2 to 3 sage leaves
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• 1 ½ oz. Mango vodka
• ½ oz. triple sec
• 1 dash peach bitters

Recipe:

1.   Muddle cucumber, sage and simple syrup in a shaker.
2.   Add vodka, triple sec and bitters.
3.   Fill with ice and shake until chilled.
4.   Strain into a chilled martini glass or coup.
5.   Garnish with a sage leaf.