What makes this drink really sing are the glasses. As suggested by a recipe I found on the Internet, I mixed together some basil and sugar in a food processor, moistened the rim of the glasses with lime juice, and dipped the glasses in the basil sugar. I did this, of course, before putting anything else in the glasses. The basil sugar along the rim gave the drink a festively sweet complexity, and club soda to top it off kept the drink light and perfect for the summer.
Basil Mojitos
10 large basil leaves, divided use
1/4 cup PLUS 4 teaspoons granulated sugar, divided use
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup white rum
Lime wedges
1/2 cup club soda
Place 2 basil leaves and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor and process until well-blended. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Put the remaining 8 basil leaves in a large cocktail shaker with the remaining 4 teaspoons of sugar and lime juice. Muddle the mixture (crush the basil leaves) with the back of a thick wooden spoon.
Add rum and several ice cubes to shaker, cover and shake to blend. Rub a lime wedge along the rim of 2 lowball glasses and dip the wet glass rims into the basil sugar mixture. Add a few ice cubes to each glass and divide the rum mixture between the glasses. Top off each with club soda, and stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Makes 2 servings.
Recipe by Stephanie Spencer, via Sunset
Food on 07/29/2015