Strawberry-Basil Mocktail

When your garden is overflowing with lush, sun-ripe berries, or when there are piles of them at your local farmers market or roadside stand, save some for this surprising strawberry-basil mocktail. If you’ve never combined strawberries and basil, it will be a revelation. The herb has similar qualities to mint and perfectly complements the sweet-tart strawberry. Muddled with some sugar and served over ice with something fizzy, it’s a perfect sipper for patio or beach parties.

There are plenty of ways to make this simple drink your own, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs, fun garnishes or even a sugared rim for your serving vessel (similar to a lemon drop martini). For those who imbibe, you can use sparkling wine instead of club soda, or add a splash of something stronger to make it a full-fledged cocktail.

Strawberry-Basil Mocktail Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries: This drink is best during strawberry season, whenever that is where you live. However, good berries are available in grocery stores year-round, so feel free to make these any time of year. Look for juicy, deep-red fruit for best results.
• Basil leaves: Choose bright-green and fragrant leaves. Plus, you can finish leftover basil by making a caprese pasta salad or pesto!
• Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar when you shake up this mocktail. If you prefer organic cane sugar, that’s great, too.
• Lemon juice: This is the time to reach for freshly squeezed lemon juice. Zest the lemons first, if you can, and save the lovely yellow rind for another dish.
• Club soda: Club soda is sparkling water with added minerals. If you prefer, you can make this drink with plain sparkling water, seltzer or soda water instead.

Directions

Step 1: Make the fruity base

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries, basil and sugar. Fill the shaker three-fourths full with ice and add the lemon juice. Cover and shake for 10 to 15 seconds or until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.

Editor’s Tip: Muddling is crushing fruit, herbs or spices to release their flavors. If you don’t have a muddler (it’s an essential tool for any home bar), the end of a wooden spoon works in a pinch.

Step 2: Top and serve

Strain the mixture into six rocks glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda and, if desired, additional basil leaves.

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Strawberry-Basil Mocktail Variations

• Make it minty: Basil and mint are cousins, and either is great in this drink. Mint leaves are smaller than basil leaves, albeit quite pungent, so adjust accordingly.
• Add a shot: This drink works perfectly as a cocktail base. If you like the flavor of strawberry daiquiris, try supplementing it with some rum. If you’re in the mood for a julep, try bourbon. A lovely gin would work well, too.
• Try lime: Lime juice pairs beautifully with strawberries, so try freshly squeezed lime juice instead of lemon juice. You can also go halfsies.

How to Store Strawberry-Basil Mocktail

Because a strawberry-basil mocktail is made with sparkling water, you don’t want to prepare it ahead of time—it will lose its fizz. However, you can store homemade lemon juice in the fridge, speeding up the mocktail-making process. If you need to do some prep, muddle the basil and strawberries, add the lemon juice, and keep this in a screw-top jar in the fridge for up to two days. Shake it with ice and top it with sparkling water to order.

Strawberry-Basil Mocktail Tips

CHRISTINE MA FOR TASTE OF HOME

What type of glass is best for strawberry-basil mocktails?

This recipe suggests rocks glasses, but you won’t go amiss serving these in your preferred type of cocktail glass. I’ve served these in coupe glasses at fancy gatherings and poured them into mason jars for rustic barn weddings.

Can you use frozen strawberries for mocktails?

The drinks won’t have the same summery flavor, but you can absolutely make this mocktail with frozen strawberries.

What can you serve with strawberry-basil mocktails?

This drink is natural at picnics and summer parties, so pour a glass while you’re waiting to dig into a plate of barbecued chicken or buttery-grilled shrimp. It would also be a great accompaniment to a platter that includes honey balsamic goat cheese dip, chewy soft pretzels and fresh fruit.