This will be a very short blog post. It’s August here in Italy and everyone is on vacation. Including me. We’re up in Todi and even though I’m cooking and entertaining up a storm, I’m finding it very hard to remember to photograph things. Pasta, pizza and grilled meats tend to get eaten up before I can even focus.
I am remembering to make cocktails though. Which may have a lot to do with why I’m forgetting to photograph things. Just a thought.
Luckily the other night I was able to capture these cocktails before anyone got their hands on them. Not to say that people weren’t hovering, waiting anxiously for their aperitivi. Actually, this time the hovering guest was actually helpful in the blog department. It was Eugenia who came up with the perfect name for this one: The Basilito.
And I guess it is like a Mojito with major ingredient changes. Basil and lemon stand in for mint and lime. And vodka instead of rum. I guess it doesn’t have anything at all to do with a Mojito, but it’s a cute name (thanks Eugenia) and is the perfect hot weather drink.
One warning: these go down awful easy. Just saying. 
Basilito
makes one drink
2 oz vodka
6 large basil leaves
1 tsp sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
sparkling water or club soda
ice
Pour vodka into a tall glass, and add basil and sugar. Muddle well.
Add lemon juice and fill about halfway up with sparkling water. Add as much ice as will fit into the glass.
Oh heavens. This is going on the dinner menu for our guests tomorrow night as the cocktail. Grazie mille. xo
I’m sold! This looks so refreshing and perfect for this time of year!
This looks soooooo delicious.
I need to buy some basil. I already have Absolut in the freezer.
Well, gee, I’d say that drink has my name written all over it.
Hello my new favorite drink! Very dangerous, especially as the dirty spicy onion martini was just too delicious to be true. True, I won’t be making this with excellent vodka, but I’ll just stuff in more basil. 🙂
Merci!
Love the humor in this post-:) and the drink looks fabulous!
Having house guests this week. Let’s see if Mavis will have one of these instead of a dirty Martini!!! I might even try one
Let me know how the drinks turn out everyone. And yes, Jodi,I was tempted to call it the Jodilito.
And mom. Really? Mavis will drink anything! (are you reading this Mavis? 🙂
That looks so refreshing. I have gotten into using basil in drinks this summer, and I just love it. This one looks terrific.
Wonderful!
In the interest of science, I made a basilito last night for my wife and me using limes. I’m happy to report that our lab tests prove conclusively that this drink is equally delightful and even more vibrantly green when using limes.