Why not put a fresh spin on an old standard? The Basil Julep is a mild drift from the usual mint version, with the sweet sugar syrup balanced out well with the herbal notes of basil. A real summer refresher!
Basil Juleps
Serves 20 (in a 10-ounce rocks glass filled halfway with ice)
2 cups sugar
3 cups water
2 cups basil leaves, packed
7 cups bourbon
5 ½ cups sparkling water
Make the basil simple syrup:
Combine water, sugar, and basil leaves in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for one minute.
Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes until cool.
Make the cocktail:
Combine 3 ½ cups basil syrup, 7 cups Bourbon, and 5 ½ cups sparkling water in a gorgeous container and stir well.
Garnish container with basil leaves and place basil leaves in a vase beside cocktails for guests to garnish their glasses. The leaf garnish makes all the difference!
Purchase the Lark Cocktails book for dozens more great recipes! #livinglark
