Red Of The Day Recipe

Time8m

Serves1

Make Red Of The Day Recipe in just 8m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Muddle basil
Place 3 fresh basil leaves in a mixing glass. Add the simple syrup (0.25 oz) and gently muddle 4–6 times to release oils and aromatics without shredding the leaves into tiny pieces.

2
Add spirits and citrus
Add 2 oz dry gin, 1 oz sweet red vermouth, 0.5 oz Campari and 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice to the mixing glass with the muddled basil.
3
Add bitters and ice
Add 2 dashes of orange bitters and fill the mixing glass with ice until nearly full.
4
Stir to chill and dilute
Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds (about 20–25 full rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted. The goal is clear, cold liquid with gentle dilution, not aeration.

5
Double strain into glass
Strain the cocktail through a fine-mesh hawthorn or julep strainer into a chilled rocks glass over a single large ice cube. Double-straining catches small basil bits for a smoother sip.
6
Express and garnish
Hold an orange peel over the drink and gently express the oils by pinching the peel skin-side down above the surface, then rub the rim with the peel and drop it into the glass as garnish.
7
Serve immediately and enjoy. The result is a balanced red cocktail — bitter, herbal, bright and slightly sweet — making it a 'Red of the Day' spotlight.