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!
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.
What is Thai Basil?
Thai basil is a type of basil that is native to Southeast Asia and used in a lot of SEA dishes. It does taste similar to sweet basil but it has a strong anise/licorice-like aroma.
There really isn’t a substitute for Thai basil- it has a very unique flavor even from sweet basil. You can use sweet basil for this recipe, but it will taste a bit different.
How to make the infused syrup
Dissolve water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. The ratio of sugar to water is 2:1, respectively.
Add the dried hibiscus and let it steep until it turns a deep red color.
Add the thai basil leaves continue cooking over medium low heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Let it cool completely before straining so that the flavors can continue to steep as it cools.
Drink recipe
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz Hibiscus & Thai Basil simple syrup
- 1 oz club soda
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.
