On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than refreshing summer cocktails with fresh herbs from the garden. Mojitos and mint juleps have been cocktail menu staples for years but mint is not the only herb that enhances a drink. Bring your basil, rosemary, thyme or jalapeño peppers in from the garden and have some fun concocting flavorful cocktails. Whether muddled, infused, or simply used as a pretty and fragrant garnish, fresh herbs make a wonderful addition to summer cocktails.
How to add Fresh Herbs to Your Summer Cocktails
- Make it simple by muddling your favorite fresh herbs in a cocktail shaker. The purpose of muddling is not to smash the herbs to a pulp but instead to gently bring the essence out. Then add all other cocktail ingredients, including ice, shake, strain and serve.
- Some drink recipes might suggest infusing the fresh herbs into vodka, tequila, whiskey, or other distilled spirits. Simply pour your liquor of choice into a mason jar, add the fresh herb of your choice, cover and let stand for 2-3 days. Taste every couple of days until you feel you have reached a flavor you are happy with.
Summer Cocktails with Fresh Basil
Basil is known for a mild, slightly sweet with a peppery edge flavor. It pairs well with gin, vodka and tequila. Muddled fruit is a helpful addition to offset any bitterness.
Secret Ingredient loves theendlessmeal.com’s Strawberry Basil Mojito recipe. It’s the perfect cocktail for summertime, when strawberries are at their prime and gardens have a plethora of basil.
Add Rosemary to Your Summer Cocktail
Rosemary has a lemon-pine flavor with hints of wood and pepper, which makes it a great pairing for rum, tequila, vodka, gin and whiskey cocktails. Simply adding a sprig as a garnish will infuse a drink with flavor. We enjoy bhg.com’s fun twist on gin and juice with this Rosemary-Grapefruit Gin Cocktail. It’s simple yet sophisticated.
Summer Cocktails with Thyme
Photo Credit Courtesy of Stylemepretty.com
Thyme’s very earthy with a hint of mint. It’s best served with clear spirits like gin or vodka, but it also works with bourbon. For this thyme cocktail we are breaking out the bubbles. This Blackberry Thyme Champagne cocktail from stylemepretty.com just looks like summer in a glass.
The Perfect Summer Cocktail Addition – Fresh Mint
Mint’s sweet, refreshing taste works well with vodka, rum, tequila, and bourbon. Mint highlights the luscious flavors of fruit and complements the rich warmth of alcohol. No wonder it’s such a summer cocktail staple. In our opinion it is best muddled. We love the classic Southside cocktail. Muddle fresh mint leaves in simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add vodka or gin and lime juice. Shake well and pour into a cocktail glass over ice. Garnish with fresh mint sprig.
Add Jalapeño Peppers for a Cocktail with a Kick
If herbs are not your thing but you have a vegetable garden with jalapeño peppers you need to try this cocktail! This Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita from seasonedtotasteblog.com is the perfect combination of sweet pineapple and spicy jalapeño. It is a definite upgrade to your classic margarita.
Fresh Herbs and Your Health
Secret Ingredient is a big fan of fresh herbs not just for making summer cocktails delicious but in adding flavor to our favorite recipes. Not only do herbs enhance flavors of food and drinks but they have many health benefits. They have been proven to be antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, improve your immune system and can prevent chronic illnesses. Looking for a health boost, contact Secret Ingredient today. If you’re looking for a fun summer or early fall activity schedule a cooking class with Secret Ingredient. Classes are personalized and include instruction on exactly what you and your group want to learn. We can teach you how to incorporate more fresh herbs into your everyday diet.
