Basil Mojito

I bought like a ten pound bag of fresh basil. We have a hellofalotta basil in the apartment. The apartment smells slightly sweet. Sometimes I buy things in bulk pretending that there are more than two light eaters in the house. We will be eating drinking basil for a week solid. It is totally okay, the mercury has crept above 90 and we tend to make everything in liquid form. I probably should get ten pounds of lemons and limes....

I also bought a bottle of white rum. Why did I wait seven years to finally buy white rum? Rum and summer are best buddies, they mix well together.

I only bought one bottle of rum. I do not need ten pounds of rum in the house.

Fresh herbs are one of my favorite summer scores. So are creative cocktails, summer dresses, tan lines from bike shorts, white nail polish, time by the pool and J's master grilling abilities. I just like summer. Summer makes everything pop.

I don't like snakes that come out in summer, that is it.

There is a big open blue sky in the desert, I can walk around in a bikini and not get cold even in the shade, sage brush, dust, ice laden drinks, sunshine - all of which I can't get enough. Snakes have me running in fear.

Basil and booze, it is like basil and pasta, it just works if you like basil. It is like fireworks and sunshine, you have to like them in order to enjoy them. Don't pretend, just yes or no.

This concoction, without booze next to the pool in the afternoon, with a splash of rum next to the pool in the evening, will be around as we widdle away our time here in the desert.

I have to admit I am used to cold climates, you can tell by the fact that I rarely put ice in my drinks. I run on the chilly side making ice almost unbearable. A beverage here in the desert without ice is a bit unbearable. Times change. Habit kicked in when I made this batch, mixing the ingredients with ice to chill them then straining it into a favorite little glass. Next batch was poured into a pint glass that was full of ice cubes. I liked both variations, J liked it cold, loaded with ice cubes. 


Basil Mojito

Makes 1 cocktail

Double it, call a friend and sit in the sun. Enjoy the summer!

• 10 basil leaves
• 1/2 glass soda water
• 1 tablespoon mint simple syrup
• 3 lime slices
• 2 shots white rum
• soda water 

Place basil leaves, simple syrup and lime slices into a chilled shaker. Lightly muddle with a wooden spoon until the lime is juiced and the basil smell becomes intense. Add rum and a few ice cubes then shake shake shake! Fill a pint glass with ice strain the contents of the shaker over the ice and on top it with soda water. Garnish with a few basil leaves, sprigs of mint or lime wedges.

ENJOY.