Basil Cucumber Martini Recipes

Steps:

• Shake the liquid ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with the olive skewer and basil leaf. *To infuse the vodka, place 10 basil leaves in a 750-ml bottle of organic vodka (Rain vodka, distilled in Kentucky from organic corn, is a good choice) for two hours. Be careful not to overinfuse. You want a mild flavor and fragrance, not basil cologne.

Steps:

• In a Collins glass, muddle cucumber, basil, and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add vodka and crushed ice. Stir until well chilled. Garnish with an additional cucumber slice and basil leaf.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in the hot water.
• Press the grated ginger through a fine strainer set over the bowl, releasing the juice.
• In a cocktail shaker, muddle the diced cucumber with the 2 torn basil leaves.
• Add the ginger syrup, gin, lime juice and a handful of ice.
• Shake well, then strain into a martini glass.
• Garnish the martini with a cucumber slice and the remaining whole basil leaf and serve.

Steps:

• Place 2 lemon wedges, 4 Thai basil leaves, and sugar in a cocktail shaker and mash well with a cocktail muddler. Pour in vodka and ice cubes; cover and shake until the outside of the shaker has frosted, about 45 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish each with 1 lemon wedge and 1 Thai basil leaf.