Cocktails/ Recipe

June SRC Reveal: The Fresh Garden Gimlet

One of the best things about Summer – besides the free reign of unlimited ice cream cones and ice cold beer on the front stoop – is fresh, tender, immaculate garden produce.
 
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Yesterday we hit up Taste Of Little Italy. It’s a festival that happens every year in Toronto to celebrate everything the neighborhood has to offer. Churros, games, rides, shopping, churros, live music, kissing booths, BBQ, churros, sun, sangria, friendly faces, churros…. Did I mention they were serving churros?
 
John and I inhaled a ton of street food, wandered around the streets lathered up in our SPF 100 sunscreen (I still burned) and just took it all in. It’s moments like these when I think, Toronto isn’t so bad after all. It’d be better if I didn’t have seasonal allergies and I wasn’t hacking up a million lungs an hour… Evidently I go through a lot of lungs.
 
It was fabulous. And totally Summer. And the very best part of the day was when a woman handed me a beautiful, ruby red, perfectly tender, Ontario strawberry. I went out of my mind. It was so juicy and sweet and the epitome of everything a strawberry should be… It completed my day. So while I didn’t quite make it to the farmer’s market, I still got the chance to inhale the very best of Summer. It was like eating rainbows and puppy dogs and unicorns. Which, as I say it, may not have been the best things to eat. But the strawberry was!
 
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Another one of my favorite things to chow down in Summer? Basil. Mix it with a little – okay a lot of – gin and you’ve got yourself one happy – if not drunk – lady! Imagine my elation when my Secret Recipe Club assignment, Kate’s Kitchen, had a recipe for just that very thing!
 
Her recipe for the Garden Gimlet is a nice twist on a traditional Gimlet. Think of it like a mojito – but with totally different ingredients. It’s refreshing, simple and totally Summer. You can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be making more of these this Summer. Next stop, pitcher city – population, me!
 

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Garden Gimlet

Prep

Total

Yield 4 drinks

Ingredients

  • 8 Oz. Gin.
  • 1 C Herb Simple Syrup.
  • The Juice of 6-8 Limes (approx 1/2 C).
  • Handful of Fresh Basil.
  • Splash of Soda (optional).
  • Ice.

Instructions

  1. Muddle most of the basil in a cocktail shaker or big mason jar. Toss in the lime juice, simple syrup, gin and then ice. Place top on container and shake baby shake! Pour into glasses, top with soda and serve with a wedge of lime and a basil sprig.
  2. Drink.

Notes

What’s your very best part of Summer?
 
  • Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
    June 17, 2013 at 12:35 PM

    Ooh, how refreshing!! Sounds great for summer!

  • Taryn
    June 17, 2013 at 1:02 PM

    I absolutely LOVE gimlets, and this one sounds like a fun twist on the traditional. Delicious – I will be making this soon!

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 19, 2013 at 12:47 AM

      I hope you do Taryn – send me pics!

  • Chris
    June 17, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    oooh! I am feeling guilty that I would love to be sipping on this gimlet at my office desk instead of my iced coffee. Looks so refreshing!

    My favorite part of summer? The fruits and tempting drinks! πŸ™‚

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 19, 2013 at 12:47 AM

      I’ll bring you a pitcher full tomorrow Chris! πŸ˜‰

      ….I agree. fruits. drinks. temptation… err… uh.

  • Veena Theagarajan
    June 17, 2013 at 1:37 PM

    very refreshing…

  • Kate
    June 17, 2013 at 1:47 PM

    LOL – We made the rosy rhubarb syrup Saturday for the first time this year. I told Connie I wanted him to create a strawberry rhubarb drink… Our daquiri wound up being delicious. I’m so glad you enjoyed this πŸ™‚ Kate

  • Liz Berg
    June 17, 2013 at 2:40 PM

    Such a gorgeous, tempting cocktail!

  • Rhonda
    June 17, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    This cocktail is right up my alley! Gin yum, basil yum, light and refreshing but boozey…yay that’s for me. I planted a lot of basil this year so I see a few of these in my future.

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 19, 2013 at 12:48 AM

      haha – I’m with ya Rhonda! If you make them, I’d love to see photographs!

  • Karen - Cinnamon Freud
    June 17, 2013 at 10:21 PM

    Everyone needs a refreshing drink or summer, love this one!

  • Bobbie Gustafsaon
    June 17, 2013 at 11:52 PM

    hm…now it seems so lame I just squeezed lime in with my gin tonight. Thanks for sharing this!

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 19, 2013 at 12:49 AM

      hahahahaha – Bobbie, as long as you have gin, you’re alright by me πŸ˜‰

  • Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice
    June 18, 2013 at 1:06 AM

    Ahhh, I would love this light rum – yum!

  • Debra Eliotseats
    June 18, 2013 at 11:38 PM

    Kate posts some of the best cocktails! I love basil in beverages. Great choice for summer.

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 19, 2013 at 12:49 AM

      She certainly does Debra! Basil in everything is good.

  • Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com)
    June 19, 2013 at 5:45 AM

    Kristy, this drink sounds amazing and I am not going to wait for summer to try it!

  • Feast on the Cheap
    June 19, 2013 at 1:45 PM

    Perfect, now I’m craving a cocktail at 9:45AM. Looks so refreshing…

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    June 19, 2013 at 8:51 PM

    I like gin. I like basil. And I like limes. Perfect summery goodness!

  • Teresa, foodonfifth.com
    June 21, 2013 at 2:43 AM

    I am making this lovely drink this weekend and am going to sit in my backyard underneath the shade trees and simply enjoy the moment…me and my gimlet…and a few friends.

    • Kristy Gardner
      June 22, 2013 at 3:12 PM

      That sounds like about a perfect afternoon Teresa!

  • Jen @JuanitasCocina
    June 23, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    LOVE the photos and the basil is making me drool!

  • Heide M (TM)
    June 25, 2013 at 6:56 PM

    Will give this one a try.

  • Jamie Sanders
    June 26, 2013 at 10:17 PM

    That really does sound good for summer!
    ~Jamie (visiting from src group c)

  • Andreas
    April 17, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    thanks for sharing, but I would NOT recommend to put the soda in when you are shaking the cocktail! The carbonic acid will make (depending of the amount of soda) the shaker explode in the worst case !
    So my recommendation is to shake everything -beside- the soda, then top it off with the soda and steer it. Same like a Mojito
    Cheers

    • Kristy Gardner
      April 19, 2015 at 10:06 AM

      Hi Andreas! You’re absolutely right. Thank you so much for pointing that out. That was definitely an error on my part. I must have been drinking too many Garden Gimlets as I typed out the post. haha… I’ve rectified it to add the soda afterwards. Thanks for keeping me honest! Happy Sunday!