Basil Infused Mezcal Sour Cocktail Recipe
Let's whip up a Basil Mezcal Sour Cocktail, San Francisco-style!** This zesty, vibrant concoction stars mezcal and takes it to new heights, shaking off any rough edges. More on creating herb cocktails awaits you!
Shopping List: Grab yourself a bottle of Hangar 1 Kaffir Lime Vodka and a moderately smoky mezcal, like Del Maguey's Vida.
Gear Up: A wooden muddler is the way to go when mashing basil, and a four-prong bar strainer will make your life easier.
- Servings: 1 drink
- Difficulty: A breeze!
- Timing: 10 minutes - total, 10 minutes active
Ingredients (10)
- 2 large basil leaves, plus a small one for garnishing
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon refined sugar
- 1/2 ounce lime vodka
- 3/4 ounce mezcal
- 1 ounce tequila blanco
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Celery seed, a pinch for garnish
Method
- Pop a coupe glass in the freezer to chill.
- Get a cocktail shaker, put in the basil leaves, lime juice, and sugar, and muddle them till they're nice and mashed up. Add the vodka, mezcal, tequila, Cointreau, and egg white. Shake without ice for around 10 seconds to mix up the egg white.
- Half-fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the outside becomes frosty.
- Strain the drink into the chilled glass, using a bar strainer if you've got one. Garnish with celery seed and a small basil leaf.
Insights: Crafting a Basil Mezcal Sour Cocktail
To take a classic Mezcal Sour recipe, add some pizzazz with Hangar 1 Kaffir Lime Vodka and Del Maguey's Vida Mezcal. Spice it up with these steps:
Ingredients:- 1 2/3 oz Del Maguey Vida Mezcal- 1/2 oz Hangar 1 Kaffir Lime Vodka- 3/4 oz Fresh lime juice- 1/2 oz Simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated till dissolved and cooled)- 1/2 oz Pasteurized egg white (or Aquafaba for a plant-based option)- 4 drops Saline solution (4:1 ratio)- A few basil leaves for garnish and infusion (optional)- Ice
Instructions:1. Basil-Infused Simple Syrup (optional): - If you like a stronger basil flavor, infuse the simple syrup by steeping basil leaves in it for at least an hour. After that, strain the syrup before using it.
- Prepare Saline Solution:
- Mix 20g salt with 80g water. Stir till completely dissolved.
- Chill the Glass:
- Stick your glass in the freezer for around 10 minutes.
- Shake the Cocktail:
- In a shaker, combine the mezcal, vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white (or Aquafaba). If desired, add basil leaves for more flavor.
- Dry Shake:
- Shake the mixture without ice for around 10 seconds to combine the egg white and basil leaves.
- Add Ice and Shake Again:
- Add ice to the shaker and shake again for about 10 seconds.
- Strain the Cocktail:
- Pour the cocktail into the chilled glass, adding a few drops of saline solution if preferred.
- Garnish with Basil:
- Garnish with a fresh basil leaf and serve straight away.
This wonderfully balanced mix showcases mezcal's smoky side, the tanginess of lime, the sweetness of vodka, and the freshness of basil. Cheers!
- To enhance the Basil Mezcal Sour Cocktail's flavor, consider making basil-infused simple syrup by steeping basil leaves in equal parts sugar and water, heating till dissolved, and cooling before using.
- For those seeking a plant-based alternative to egg whites, aquafaba can be used instead in the cocktail's ingredients.
- Before serving the Basil Mezcal Sour Cocktail, strain the mixture using a sieve to remove any basil leaves or sediment.
