Picture this: it's summer. That perfect day, where the window is open, and the breeze is an invited guest inside your home, bringing with it the smell of herbs and flowers.
You're tickled by the idea of enjoying those herbs. But how? Herbal cocktails.
Herbal Rosemary Fizz Cocktail
A snap of the fingers and this easy gin and rosemary cocktail is ready to go. It takes a little longer if you need to make the rosemary simple syrup fresh but don't let that put you off.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Rosemary sprig and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, gin, rosemary simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon wheel.
Herbal Minty Mojito
You could write a book with at least three volumes about all the ways you can make a mojito. Let's keep it simple - this classic herbal cocktail should be accessible.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rum
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3-6 fresh mint leaves
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Mint sprig and lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add rum, simple syrup, lime juice, and mint leaves.
- Shake to chill.
- Add ice.
- Shake three times.
- Pour, do not strain, into a highball or collins glass.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and lime slice.
Herbaceous Basil Cocktails
Basil is more than a pretty garnish or something you add to pasta sauce. It also makes for a delicious martini. It brightens up cocktails and gives them another layer of fresh flavors. From a basil gimlet to a gin basil smash or a watermelon basil collins, a basil cocktail is a home run.
Bourbon Thyme Cocktail
Despite its delicate appearance, thyme has bold flavor. Few herbs capture the flavor of an herb garden in sunshine quite like this cocktail.
Are you someone without a lot of thyme on their hands? Sub sage simple syrup instead.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce thyme simple syrup
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Thyme sprig and dehydrated orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, thyme simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with thyme sprigs and a dehydrated orange wheel.
A Sage Gin Cocktail
The classic honeyed bee's knees gets an intellectual makeover with the addition of a bit of sage. Herb puns are irresistible - much like this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey syrup
- 1-3 fresh sage leaves
- Ice
- Sage sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, and sage leaves.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a sage sprig, lightly smacking it against the back of your hand before placing in the glass to release the aromas.
Herby Lemongrass Cocktails
If you're searching for a citrusy cocktail that doesn't rely on juice, your search is over. Herbal lemongrass cocktails are complex, refreshing, and absolutely luscious.
Herbal Tarragon Tequila Cocktail
Get down and herby with a tarragon and tequila cocktail, one that'll completely change how you see tequila cocktails. Yeah, it's that good.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces resposado tequila
- ¼ ounce yellow chartreuse
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce tarragon simple syrup
- Ice
- Tarragon sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, reposado tequila, yellow chartreuse, pineapple juice, lime juice, and tarragon simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a tarragon sprig.
Herbal Garden Collins
A soft and herbal collins that uses a little green tea, and a splash of gin (or vodka!) creates a smooth sip that tastes like you're relaxing amongst your herbs.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce chilled green tea
- 2-3 fresh sage leaves
- ½ ounce honey liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Tonic water to top off
- Lemon slice and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle sage leaves with simple syrup.
- Add ice, gin, green tea, and honey liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins or rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with tonic water.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and rosemary sprig.
Herbal-Infused Liquors
Whip up an easy herbal highball using an infused-spirit or swap the spirit in your favorite drink, like a basil vodka in a cosmo, for one that'll make your heart skip beats.
A few ideas to get you started:
- Mint-infused vodka
- Basil-infused vodka
- Rosemary-infused vodka
- Sage, tarragon, or thyme-infused whiskey
- Rosemary, mint, or basil-infused gin
- Sage, mint, or rosemary-infused tequila
Cocktails With Herbaceous Flavors
If you desire to live the cottagecore life or you want to use your herbs to the max, I can think of no better way than an herbal cocktail. Yeah, you can add fresh herbs to your cooking too, but before you pull out those pots and pans, start with an herbaceous drink.
