Name: Basil Daiquiri
Total time: 15 min
Yield: Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients: ¾ cup sugar; 5 ounces warm tap water; 2 ounces white rum; ¾ ounce lime juice; ¼ cup fresh Italian or Thai basil leaves, plus extra basil sprig for garnishing

Why This Recipe Works

Shaking basil leaves with standard daiquiri ingredients gives just the right amount of refreshing basil flavor to elevate this simple drink.

Before You Begin

You will have leftover simple syrup; the rest can be refrigerated for up to 1 month for use in other cocktails; shake well before using.

Instructions

for the simple syrup

Whisk ¾ cup sugar and 5 ounces warm tap water in bowl until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely, about 10 minutes, before transferring to airtight container.

for the cocktail

Add 2 ounces white rum, ¾ ounce lime juice, ¾ ounce simple syrup, and ¼ cup fresh Italian or Thai basil leaves to cocktail shaker, then fill shaker with ice. Shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with basil sprig and serve.