Living in the swampy regions of South Louisiana has taught me lots of valuable life lessons, but one of the most important is that every great meal deserves an equally admirable cocktail. Big gatherings require less effort in that respect, hand them a beer and a platter of boiled crawfish and you are good to go. However, beer is not always required or desired. The perfect companion to all of our recent tomato dishes is a super fresh and flirty Lemon Basil Spritzer.  I’m being super classy and true to my roots by serving this drink in a Mason jar.

Always try to use Stolichnaya, Stoli, in my cocktails. It has a smooth finish. I like good, flavored vodka as well, and Stoli is the only brand that I have found that the infusions are beautifully done. Other brands will leave a bitter after taste and some taste as though a vial of essential oil was dropped into the bottle.

All this talk about oils is the perfect pathway to talk about muddling.  Muddling a cocktail usually requires sugar; an herb, fruit, or other aromatic; and a muddler. A muddler usually will look like a baseball bat for a newborn, but they come in all different finishes and shapes. We pulverize the sugar and aromatics with the muddler to draw the oils out and infuse our beverage. Now go forth and become a mixologist like no other.

Let’s shake up something fresh!

Lemon Basil Spritzer

2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar

2 Lemons, one cut in half and the other sliced ¼ inch thick

6 Basil Leaves

4-5 Oz Stolichnaya vodka or brand of your choice

Club soda to top

Procedure:

1. Combine the sugar and four basil leaves in a stainless steel cocktail shaker.
2. Zest one half of the cut lemon into the sugar mixture.
3. Using a muddler, muddle the mixture until the strong aroma of lemon and basil begins to waft out of the shaker, 1-2 minutes.
4. Place 6 ice cubes into the shaker and then juice the halved lemon into the sugar.
5. Pour in the vodka, place the lid on the shaker, and shake vigorously another minute. Strain the mixture into two prepared mason jars.
6. To prepare the mason jars, fill with ice cubes and place two slices of lemon and one leaf of basil into each jar.
7. Top the vodka mixture in each jar with club soda and serve.