What are your plans for Memorial weekend?
The official kick-off to summer is just around the corner. I’m so excited to spend more time on patios, fire up the grill, eat all the summer produce- I’m so ready for watermelon and sweet corn- and of course, drink some fruit-forward cocktails!
This month’s theme with Recipe Redux was to create a cocktail. I was surprised and challenged by this theme, as I’ve had little experience making my own cocktails. Fortunately, I was chatting with a friend recently who suggested making a drink with blackberries and basil. Of course, what a good combination! I prefer drinks that are not very sweet, and I love the flavor that fresh herbs can provide.
I chose to keep this drink simple, just 5 ingredients, including the ice. Perfect for the novice cocktail-maker like myself. I don’t even have cocktail tools, but the end of a wooden spoon worked just fine to muddle the blackberries and basil together. Since, overly sweet drinks aren’t my thing I opted for a dry prosseco to finish my cocktail. If you prefer something sweeter a more sweet variety, or even a sparkling rose would be a nice substitute.
Let’s cheers to weekends on the lake, at the beach, bbqs, vacations, and really good cocktails.
- 5-6 blackberries
- 2 T fresh basil (2-6 leaves depending on the size)
- 1 oz. white rum (1 shot; I used Bacardi)
- ½ c dry Prosecco
- ⅓ c ice (I used large 1" ice cubes)
- To make one cocktail add the blackberries and basil to a glass. Using a masher for cocktails or the end of a wooden spoon, muddle (or mash) the blackberries and basil until most of the berries are broken up.
- Add the rum and stir with the berries and basil.
- Add the ice to the glass and gently pour over the Prosecco.
- Garnish with extra blackberries and basil if desired. Serve immediately.
