In honor of St. Patty's Day and all things green, look to your herb garden for some flavor inspiration. In the March issue, we feature four cocktails that combine leafy sprigs with spirits you probably have on hand.
1 A muddler looks kind of like a baseball bat—the large rounded end is used to mash the ingredients, and the skinnier flat end is used to mix them.
2 Mint-Ginger Caipiroska—fresh ginger, mint sprigs, and vodka.
3 Cilantro Negroni—cilantro sprigs, Campari, club soda, and an orange wedge.
4 Tequila-Thyme Lemonade—thyme sprigs, tequila, and lemon wedges.
5 Basil French 75—basil leaves, gin, lemon juice, and Champagne.
The key to extracting the herbs' flavors and fragrant oils is muddling - done with a traditional bar tool (that's similar to a mortar and pestle, but gentler on delicate leaves) or the end of a wooden spoon. First, you muddle the ingredients at the bottom of a glass and then pour the liquid ingredients over it. It makes for an easy and refreshing beverage that's perfect for picnics and outdoor dining as the weather warms up.
For the recipes, pick up the March issue, on newsstands now, or download the digital version for the iPad.
From: Maurice | 3/8/11 at 9:36 pm
Great ideas, my wife will love these.