Cocktail Creations Using Homegrown Herbs
The only thing sweeter than staying home and sipping a cocktail on your front porch is knowing that it’s made with ingredients you grew in your own backyard. We’ve created three cocktails using hearty herbs that can be grown in a flower box, planter, or herb garden.
With hands full of fresh basil, mint, and rosemary, we turned to Charlottesville gem, The Alley Light. We asked Bar Manager extraordinaire, Micah LeMon, to create cocktails that allowed our homegrown herbs to play the starring role.
The results were three refreshing, balanced, and dangerously delicious libations…
1 – MINT ELIXIR
Inspired by the Pliny Tonic at Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston, Texas.
8 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. Bombay Dry Gin
3/4 oz. lime juice
3/4 oz. simple syrup
6 cucumber slices
10 drops habanero tincture*
Muddle cucumber slices in cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Fill shaker with ice, shake for 12 seconds. Double strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an additional slice of cucumber and sprig of mint.
*Habanero tincture: Chop 7 habanero peppers and place into clean 12 oz. mason jar. Top with 100 proof vodka. Allow mixture to steep for three days. Strain out habanero peppers. Place tincture into small jar with eye-dropper.
2- ROSEMARY & CIDER MASH
2 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. apple cider
1 1/4 oz. apple cider reduction*
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/4 oz. Becherovka (liqueur)
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Muddle rosemary sprigs in a julep cup or tumbler. Add remaining ingredients. Top
with crushed ice. Garnish with an additional rosemary sprig.
*Apple cider reduction: Bring 3 cups of apple cider to a boil, allow to reduce to 1 cup. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup brown sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar and allow syrup to cool before using.
3 – BASIL BLOOM
7 fresh basil leaves
2 oz. Square One Botanical (spirit)
3/4 oz. St Germain Elderflower (cordial)
1 1/2 oz. grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker, add ice. Shake for 12 seconds and double strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and an additional basil leaf.
Feeling thirsty?! We sure are! Try these flower box libation recipes and share your results on our facebook, twitter, or instagram, and use the hashtag #flowerboxlibations !