Margaritas lend themselves to so many different flavor combinations and this Lemon Basil Margarita is no exception. Light and slightly herbaceous it’s perfect for a party!
It’s no tightly kept secret that I love margaritas. LOVE them. Something about the bite of tequila combined with citrus and some sweet and salty elements altogether make for one of my favorite cocktails. I have been making this margarita for years and it will probably always be my favorite but it’s not something that you can whip up in 5 minutes.
It’s best when the ingredients are steeped for several hours so having the urge and getting that urge satisfied means a long period in between…enough time to change your mind!
This Lemon Basil Margarita is like opposite day…made in minutes as long as you have the ingredients in the house. You know I have the booze but now I’ve got a pot of basil too and it was begging me to be used in a margarita. I have a Meyer lemon tree too but it’s not quite there yet!
When I was asked by the folks at Gourmet Sweet Botanicals if I would like to sample some of their cocktail rimmers I’m sure it’s no surprise that I said YES!! The delicate crispy, crunchiness and unique flavors are derived from whole fresh herbs and edible flowers combined with cane sugar. They’re available online and are a great tasting fun addition to your bar essentials!
I had planned to garnish this Lemon Basil Margarita with it’s namesake ingredients of lemon and basil but the fun part was using the Basil Cocktail Rimmer. I combined the basil rimmer with my standard sugar/salt mixture because well, for me, a margarita NEEDS salt and it was perfect. Just like the basil in the cocktail; it was subtle but definitely there; a little unexpected surprise for your tastebuds.
Just the right touch for this cocktail. I still love my one and only the best but this Lemon Basil Margarita is a great new contender!
More Margaritas? I've got them!
PIN IT! ‘Lemon Basil Margarita’
Lemon Basil Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Blanco Tequila
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 3 Basil Leaves
For Garnish:
- Sugar/salt combination for the rim
- Lemon slice
- Basil leaf
Instructions
- Rim the glass with a combination of sugar and salt or if using the Fresh Origins botanicals a combination of half sugar/salt mixture and half botanicals.
- Tear the basil and combine it in a shaker with the rest of the ingredients. Add ice; shake well and then pour into an ice filled rocks glass over a strainer. Garnish with basil and a lemon wheel.
Notes
Cook time only if you are making simple syrup. Simple syrup is a combination of sugar and water that has been heated enough for the sugar to melt and then chill before using.
If you are going to start making your own cocktails, I advise making a batch to keep on hand. One half cup sugar and one half cup water until water boils and you can no longer see the sugar crystals; then cool and keep in fridge. It keeps a long time and is easier than making a small amount each time you craft a cocktail. It will last for several weeks if kept refrigerated.
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