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A good friend of mine once said, “The key to a successful dinner party is to start with great cocktails.” His reasoning is that if your guests are boozed up, they won’t notice any of the mistakes you make and your food is guaranteed to taste good! While I certainly think this is valuable advice, I like to serve mixed drinks for a different reason. Providing your guests with signature cocktails can really give your party an elevated, restaurant-like feel. Continue reading for two Summer Cocktail recipes: Cucumber Lime Basil Martini and The Rosebud.
Cucumber Lime Basil Martini
Ingredients
- 8 fresh basil leaves
- 1 half lime
- 2 oz./ 2 shots cucumber vodka (Square One makes a good Cucumber Vodka or you could make your own)
- ¾ oz./ ¾ shot simple syrup*
- Crushed ice
Additional fresh basil leaves (optional)
Thinly sliced cucumber (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker about half way with crushed ice. Muddle in fresh basil leaves (mash them up with the ice). The leaves should look pretty beat up and the ice should start turning green. Squeeze in 1 half lime. Add cucumber vodka and simple syrup. Cap your shaker and go to town. Strain mixture into a martini glass and garnish with a fresh basil leaf or thin cucumber slices.
Rosebud
Ingredients
- 10 chunks fresh watermelon**
- 2 oz./ 2 shots Watermelon Rosemary Infused Vodka
- Crushed ice
Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker about half way with crushed ice. Muddle in watermelon chunks (mash them up with the ice). Add watermelon rosemary infused vodka and shake until cold. Strain into a short tumbler and garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.
Notes
I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!
Baking Serendipity says
I love the pictures! These would be great for an end of summer cocktail party!
Amy says
The rosebud sounds amazing!
Jason's BBQ Adventures says
Great looking drinks for Labor day!
Michelle (Jelly Shot Test Kitchen) says
These cocktails look great – i absolutely love serving a signature cocktail at parties, and the flavors of these two are so perfect and summery. I just made a watermelon basil based jelly shot this weekend, but your watermelon rosemary combination intrigues me to do some more tinkering!
Diaczun Style says
gorgeous… can’t wait to try these. They are both great colorful drinks for photo shoots! 🙂
Karen says
Beautiful photos! Love your garnishes…was just thinking I needed some ideas other than a sprig of mint.
Priscilla - She's Cookin' says
Love the herbal element to both of these gorgeous cocktails! Wonderful way to end the weekend – you’ve inspired me to mix one up right now 🙂 Beautiful photos and love your new blog look, too!
Rachel says
Ohhhhh, those cocktails look FABulous!
Anna says
I love your friend’s approach to entertaining, as I too have been known to get my guests looped on cocktails. However, my are not as imaginative as the ones posted on your blog. I’ve enjoyed basil and strawberry gelato but I never thought of using basil in a drink, let alone rosemary. Thanks for the inspiration.
Anna,
http://annastable.blogspot.com
Gree says
Oh my..now I must have a cocktail immediately, these look amazing. Do oyu have a favorite vodka or is it Square One? I like vodka..it’s gluten-free you know 🙂
Debbie says
you have a real gift for cocktails! more great ones! Lime Basil is my preference…
penny aka jeroxie says
I am keeping this for summer… delicious!
the constant hunger says
Cucumbers and watermelons are such fragrant fruits. They are just screaming to be mixed up with alcohol. Wonderful cocktails (and pics).
Rosemary@ Sprigs of Rosemary says
I’ll have to try the Rosebud. (You should have submitted any of these cocktails to salon.com’s Kitchen Challenge last week.)
RavieNomNoms says
Gorgeous pictures! Drinks looks really good too!
Becky says
Beautiful colors! I have made watermelon cocktails before, but they didn’t turn out yours. I’ll have to make yours, if it’s not to late for local watermelon.
Jason Phelps says
These are definitely new and interesting cocktails. Check out http://ancientfirewineblog.blogspot.com/ where we make cocktails almost weekly.
Jason
Diane Nader-Epling says
You’ve done it, again!
diane
Brandon Matzek says
@Anna Basil works well in many drinks. I recently had a Basil Gimlet that was amazing! Thyme, rosemary and tarragon are other herbs that work well in drinks. Strawberry and basil is a great combination! Earlier in the year, I made a strawberry, basil , balsamic soda. Very tasty.
@Michelle Watermelon and basil sounds wonderful. I might just give that a try this weekend!
@Karen I like garnishing with a big sprig of rosemary (when appropriate) – the shape is so dramatic and the leaves give off a beautiful, woodsy fragrance. Plus, rosemary grows wild all over San Diego, so I can easily walk outside and snip some.
@Gree When I am doing a vodka infusion, I like to get a middle of the road vodka (smirnoff, skyy or absolut). If I am shaking up the vodka straight up, I like to get Kirkland Vodka (Costco’s vodka). Kirkland Vodka is comparable to Grey Goose and costs a fraction of the price! Square One does make a great Cucumber Vodka, but I used my own Armenian Cucumber Vodka for this recipe.
@Rosemary I wasn’t aware of the contest! But thank you for the heads up. I will keep my eye on their Kitchen Challenges.
Sommer @ A Spicy Perspective says
Gorgeous! Love the cucumber basil concoction especially!
Trader Joes Recipes says
The cucumber martini sounds amazing. Nice Pics!