[g-rant] herb simple syrups: the cocktails

So how do you take a SaraByTheSeason post on delicious do-it-yourself simple syrups and make it even better?

Yes, you are correct: you add alcohol.

Hopefully I’m not infringing on any trademarked names or recipes, but I hope you enjoy. The first drink I will highlight won the prestigious award as the hit of our summer entertaining: the Basilian. It’s my take on lime basil simple syrup, carbonated water, Southern Comfort, and a lime twist. I witnessed grown men cry over this concoction, introverts become social butterflies, and even had some typical non-drinkers ask for multiple refills. I normally spit-ball the recipe and for good reason. It allows you to tweak the drink to your mood or your desired dancing ability for later in the evening. However, if you’re the analytical type that feels the need to be tied down a bit for mixing libations, I’ll post some measurements for this nectar.

The Basilian
Fill pint glass with ice
Add:
1 shot Southern Comfort (or see previous paragraph)
½ shot lime basil simple syrup
2/3 glass of carbonated water
stir and garnish with a lime slice

The carbonated water aspect allows you to get creative. I was given a SodaStream for Christmas last year, but don’t drink much soda. So to make use of an appliance taking up countertop real estate, and in an effort to not feel like an ungrateful gift recipient, I tried some plain carbonated water from the SodaStreamto drink plain or to add to mixed drinks. It has really surprised me as to how much I enjoy it and serves as my favorite carbonated water recommendation. Other suggestions would be soda water, club soda, San Pelligrino, or even a Squirt/Fresca/Sprite drink.

I stumbled upon the next drink on my first stab at incorporating Sara’s sage simple syrup (say that three times fast). I’m not quite sure exactly what this means, but I am a Mixology Extremist, meaning that what I mix either gets amazingly rave reviews, or tastes like something that would come from a ring-tailed lemur’s digestive track. These drinks obviously were of the former category since I’m sharing them here.

I took a few whiffs of that amazing sage simple syrup and two things popped into my mind. Sambucca came first. I think mixing Sambucca and that syrup would be delicious as the licorice flavors would mesh so well with the sage. But, I didn’t have any Sambucca in the cabinet as we had a bunch of family over a few years ago, and next thing I knew aunts, uncles, and grandparents were taking flaming shots of the stuff out on our deck. Perhaps that will be another post. Epic night? Yes. Should I re-stock Sambucca? Definitely .

Anyway back to the cocktail, I did have some gin, so I went with that. And I love the results as it’s a slight spin on a martini, but with more exotic flavors with the sage simple syrup. And since you’re not serving a martini, I recommend serving this in a rocks glass or something smaller. Meet my next concoction, Ginny the Sage.

Ginny the Sage
Put in shaker glass:
Rocks glass full of ice
2 shots Bombay Sapphire gin (or other gin)
1 shot sage simple syrup
Shake the bejeezies out of it for 10 seconds
Pour into rocks glass without ice and enjoy

Try one of my concoctions, and let me know what you think. And as always, share any new ideas, as well…as you can see, we still have a lot of simple syrup to use up!