Grapefruit Basil Gimlet

I have this pet peeve. This thing that makes me inexplicably angry. I know it doesn’t REALLY matter, but it just aggravates me. It is so bad, my friends will take pictures of this occurrence just to get me riled up. Here it is: Adirondack chairs in the front yard.

I don’t mean on the porch or decking. I mean in the middle of the front yard. It would be one thing if they were actually functional, but I have never once seen someone sitting in one. Its infuriating! I mean, why waste money on the chairs or landscaping to show them off if you aren’t going to use them?!?

Over the last few months, we have been spending a lot of time in our front yard. Our back yard has drainage problems so it is always soggy and buggy in the summer months. So while we’ve been sheltering in place, we’ve taken to the front yard more and more. We’ve built a garden, we’ve moved a fire pit into the driveway, and we’ll socially distance with friends over a nice cold beverage. We even set up inflatable pools on the weekends to give the kids something to do other than play Nintendo. I have been super grateful to have a large front yard so we can gather in new ways during this unprecedented time (italics indicate smart ass voice).

Then the other day I was scrolling on Facebook and an Amazon ad popped up on my feed. You know the ones. They have a ton of things you can just scroll through. For some reason I ALWAYS scroll to see if maybe there is something that is new and novel and something I never knew I needed but I absolutely DO NEED. So as I was scrolling, I see a picture of a more modern looking Adirondack chair. Instead of getting enraged, I actually thought to myself, “Those would be nice to have in the front yard.” WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK HAS HAPPENED TO ME?!? I have officially lost my ever loving mind thanks to quarantine. Reader, I want you to know that I realized the error of my ways and immediately closed the app. I did not, and will never, buy those chairs.

Instead, I will continue to use the old camping chairs and outside dining chairs we set up in the back yard to never use. I will throw a blanket or beach towel on the ground. I will wade in the inflatable pool. But I will NEVER buy an Adirondack chair for my front yard. It may not look well designed or classy, but we’re actually using it. #Usewhatyougot can work outside of the kitchen too! And while I’m out there, I will be drinking our new summer drink of choice. I know that’s why you really came to this post, not to hear my crazy rants about yard furniture. So here we go!

My Grapefruit Basil Gimlet is the perfect summer drink! It started out being a tequila based Paloma, which was absolutely delightful, but magic happened when I switched the tequila for gin. It is sweet, tart, floral, and perfect for hanging out by the inflatable pool. You won’t even mind having to patch all the holes with duct tape!

Grapefruit Basil Gimlet

The perfect summertime cocktail with grapefruit and lime juices, gin, and basil simple syrup!

5 from 2 votes

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Course cocktails, Drinks

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker

Ingredients

  

Citrus Juice Base (makes about 4 cocktails)

• 2 grapefruits, juiced or 1 cup UNSWEETENED grapefruit juice
• 2 limes, juiced

Basil Simple Syrup (more than enough for 4 cocktails)

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 bunch basil leaves removed

Grapefruit Basil Gimlet (1 cocktail)

• 2 shots citrus juice base
• 1 shot gin
• 1/2 shot Basil Simple Syrup
• ice
• lime and/or grapefruit slices for garnish

Instructions

 

Make Citrus Juice Base

• Combine grapefruit and lime juices. If using fresh fruits, I like using an electric juicer because its easier and takes a lot of the pulp out. But use what you got!

Make Basil Simple Syrup

• Combine sugar, water, and basil into a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until sugar is completely disolved, then remove from heat. Let the basil steep into the syrup until it cools to room temp.

Make the Cocktail!

• Add ice, citrus juice base, Basil Simple Syrup, and handful of ice into a cocktail shaker. Shake it up! Then strain it into a glass! Enjoy!

Keyword cocktails, drinks, gin, recipe, summertime