This Hibiscus & Thai Basil Gimlet is a delicious & refreshing cocktail for any time of the year. I would describe it as a cross between a gimlet and Tom Collins, but with Southeast Asian flavors!
I’d consider myself more of a volume bartender than a mixologist, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make a delicious and balanced cocktail!
The notes from the Thai basil and hibiscus pair beautifully with botanical flavors of gin, but you can also make this with tequila or vodka if you prefer.
Hibiscus & Thai Basil Gimlet
Ingredients
Hibiscus & Thai Basil Simple Syrup
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 oz Thai Basil
- 1 tea bag dried Hibiscus
For the cocktail
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz Hibiscus & Thai Basil simple syrup 1 oz if you prefer sweeter
- 1 oz club soda
Garnish
- Thai Basil sprigs
- lime zest & sugar rim 1 tsp lime zest + 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Dissolve the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat then add the dried hibiscus.
- Once it turns a deep red color, add the washed Thai Basil leaves and continue cooking over medium low heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Let it cool completely BEFORE straining so that the flavors can continue to steep as it cools.
- Since this is technically a rich syrup, I recommend using 3/4 oz for this recipe but you can up it to 1 oz if you prefer a sweeter drink.
- Add syrup, lime juice, and gin to a shaker WITHOUT ice, then give it a good swirl so the syrup dissolves. Then add ice and shake vigorously for 5 seconds. Add the club soda last and stir, do not shake.
- Strain into s glass over fresh ice and garnish with Thai Basil sprigs. If you like sugar rims, I recommend zesting a lime and finely chopping it into sugar.
