Drink of the Week: Basil Gimlet

I’m a gin & tonic guy through and through–you just can’t beat the refreshing, herbal bubble of a gin & tonic. However, I have been looking for ways to jazz up my gin intake and discovered the Basil Gimlet. The basil is the perfect Summer addition to the juniper flavor of gin, and helps all of the ingredients combine in perfect harmony. 

Official Recipe:

5-6 basil leaves

1.5 oz. gin

1 tsp. agave syrup (could easily substitute simple syrup)

1 lime juiced (about 1 oz.)

 

First, muddle the basil leaves in the bottom of a glass or mixer. Add the gin, agave syrup, and lime juice. Fill with ice and shake. Strain into a stemmed martini or wine glass (or whatever glass you’ve got lying around). If you don’t want to have to clean your mixer, muddle your leaves in your glass, add your ingredients, and stir vigorously. Enjoy!

You might also like THE FITZGERALD.

HOW TO: Find the Perfect Glass

Banded Glassware Set / Recycled Wine Punt Glassware Olive 12 oz / Avva Tumblers Gray Set Of 4 / Altuzarra 18k Gold Double Old Fashioned Glasses NEIMAN MARCUS TARGET…

I love to drink (I think I’ve established this) but I’ve got to have the right glass to enjoy my libations from. Stemless for red wine, stemmed for white. A stoic glass tumbler for whiskey (that is if I could get myself to drink whiskey–I’m trying I promise. Don Draper’s influence is winning me over). Sometimes you need a glass that’s a bit more elegant for those nights when you just need to feel less poor, so I think it’s imperative to collect a robust glassware collection.

My wife and I live in a small one bedroom apartment so I’m not able to purchase each and every glass that my eye lands upon, but if you are in need, some of these might catch your fancy. I do in fact have the gold etched Altuzurra glasses–got them from Target when they were doing a partnership back in 2012 with Neiman Marcus. I love them. Who says a man can’t enjoy a little gold every once in a while? They give me a little joie de vivre… back off.

Style is everything. Shouldn’t your glassware be as stylish as you are while you’re drinking from them?

Liquid Meals

Find this and more on Brick&Vine: the shop

Anyone who knows me knows that I like to drink. It’s just something that I truly enjoy. Drinking brings people together and has always brought me happy memories (aside from a few mornings spent over the toilet with “the flu”). There is nothing like a nice glass of wine on a night in. Or a refreshing Tanqueray & Tonic out at a bar with friends.

People love to drink. People love art. Voila! The Liquid Meals Digital Print Collection at the Brick&Vine Etsy shop. We have the collection framed and hanging on the wall in our apartment and I love the irony. Enjoy!