Sweet Basil
For a period of time, we lived in Albany, NY which was such a great experience. Having always lived in the Pacific Northwest, it was wonderful to explore another part of the country. I was constantly planning day trips to Vermont or overnights in Boston or NYC. One of my favorite things was visiting my good friend, Melissa, who was living in Alexandria, VA at the time. A quick 90 minute flight and we’d be off exploring Washington D.C. and all the excitement it had to offer. Every trip down there, we’d explore a new museum, see a historical site, or discover another fantastic restaurant or bar. Old Town Alexandria was always on my list and specifically an evening at my favorite cocktail bar of all time- the PX. The PX was a speakeasy style cocktail bar that had national recognition. Located in a brownstone, the outdoor light was lit with a blue bulb, which let you know if it was open. You’d ring the bell and someone would come down and let you know if there was room for your party. Once inside, you’d head upstairs where there was a small bar with room for about ten people. The other rooms were situated with a few tables and couches, where a server would bring you drinks. It really felt like you were in someone’s apartment. Todd Thrasher was the famed mixologist/owner behind it. The cocktails were so creative and many of the ingredients were handmade, from the bitters to the tonic water. Melissa and I loved to sit at the bar and watch them craft. I’m using the past tense because sadly, the PX closed last summer but from what I understand, Thrasher is up to equally exciting things. He wanted to veer away from the fancy cocktail scene and decided to open a rum distillery and tiki bar in Southeast DC, called Tiki TNT. I’ll be sure to check that out next time I’m in the area. Anyhow, I credit those evenings at the PX for my love of craft cocktails so I was thrilled when I found one of the recipes online in Food & Wine. I don’t recall having tried the Sweet Basil cocktail when I visited but I have a ton of basil growing in my garden right now so decided to give it a try. According to the Food & Wine article, a surplus of basil growing at their restaurant garden is what inspired Thrasher to create several basil cocktails, Sweet Basil being the most beloved.
The Sweet Basil is exactly that- sweet. It’s not overly sweet, though. The cocktail calls for 10 basil leaves to be muddled for each drink and you must not cheat this. You need the basil flavor to come through. Lillet is the main liqueur which is met with a small amount of gin and simple syrup. I was tempted to change the amount of simple syrup to make it a bit less sweet but honestly, the recipe is lovely as written. Not every cocktail needs to be spirit forward. It sort of reminds me of what it might be like drinking sweet tea on a southern porch. I’ve never actually done that but you know the vibe I’m getting at! This drink is fun and light hearted. It’s a perfect cocktail for a summer evening or late afternoon while writing a blog post! Ha! Hope you enjoy!
Sweet Basil
Ingredients:
10 basil leaves, plus 1 for garnish
3 oz Lillet
1/2 oz gin
1 oz simple syrup
Method:
Muddle basil leaves in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add Lillet, gin, simple syrup, and ice to the shaker. Shake until well chilled. Double strain into a coupe glass. Take the remaining basil leaf, give it a clap over the cocktail to release oils and drop in glass.
Recipe credit to Todd Thrasher
