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Summer Crush

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Summer Crush

Made with heirloom tomato, basil, watermelon, vodka and lime, Summer Crush is the type of cocktail you could easily enjoy after a day spent at the beach.  When you’re feeling a bit parched from being in the sun all day.  After you’ve casually dropped your beach bag on the floor, but before you jump in the shower to wash away the surf and sand.  Sweet, tart, and incredibly refreshing, Summer Crush is a muddled mix of the best summer produce.  And vodka of course.

To make this drink, you’ll first need to prepare a sweet basil syrup.  I’d recommend getting this done in advance and storing in the refrigerator.  With the syrup prepared, this drink comes together in a matter of moments!  Next muddle sweet basil syrup, heirloom tomato, Thai basil and watermelon in the base of a cocktail shaker until the fruit releases its gloriously flavored juice and the basil its oils.  I use both sweet and Thai basil for this drink to add some depth of flavor; however, you could certainly use all sweet basil if Thai isn’t available.  Finally, shake in some vodka and lime juice to balance out the flavors.  The finished cocktail is summer incarnate.  Continue reading for the recipe.

Watermelon, Tomato and Basil

Muddling Tomato and Watermelon

Summer Crush
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Summer Crush

Servings 1 cocktail
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

For the sweet basil syrup:

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Handful of fresh basil leaves

For the cocktail:

  • 1/2 oz. sweet basil syrup
  • 1 small sprig Thai basil, about 6 or 7 leaves
  • 1/2 small heirloom tomato, preferably red
  • 3/4 cup watermelon chunks
  • 2 oz. vodka
  • Juice of 1/4 lime, plus an additional wedge to garnish
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. To make the sweet basil syrup, add sugar, water and regular basil to a small saucepan, and warm over medium heat. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Take the saucepan off the heat, cover and let infuse/cool for 30 minutes. Pour the syrup through a strainer into a clean container. Store the sweet basil syrup in the refrigerator for up to a month or two.
  2. To make the Summer Crush cocktail, add sweet basil syrup to a cocktail shaker with the Thai basil, heirloom tomato and watermelon. Using a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon), muddle these ingredients together. You want to bruise the basil, and release the juices from the tomato and watermelon.
  3. Add vodka, lime juice and ice to the cocktail shaker, secure the lid, and shake until the drink is mixed and well-chilled. Taste a little bit of the drink, and add more sweet basil syrup or lime juice to taste. Pour the drink through a fine-mesh basket strainer into a short tumbler filled with ice. Discard solids. Garnish the glass with a wedge of lime.

Related recipes and articles:

Summer Cocktails

Watermelon Champagne Cocktail

Watermelon Cooler

Watermelon Basil Agua Fresca

Chili Lime Cucumber Noodles on Salted Watermelon w/ Mint + Basil

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Oh no! Sorry to hear about the rain. Well this cocktail will definitely cheer things up 🙂

      Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Thanks! I have easy access to Thai basil now so I’ve been trying to work it into my cooking a bit more. Love it!

      Reply

  6. laurasmess says

    Loving your cocktail recipes Brandon. This one looks amazingly fresh, vibrant and Summery (hence the name!). I can’t wait to make the basil syrup, I can imagine a million different uses for it! Thanks

    Reply

    • Brandon Matzek says

      Thanks Laura! The basil syrup is super tasty. I had some in iced tea today. I’m thinking it might be good to drizzle over pound cake!

      Reply

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