Vespa Recipe

Muddle aromatics

In a cocktail shaker, place the fresh basil leaves and the thin cucumber slices. Add the honey syrup and fresh lemon juice. Gently muddle 6–8 times — just enough to bruise the basil and release cucumber juice and oils without pulverizing them.

Add spirits and bitters

Add the gin, elderflower liqueur, and 2 dashes of orange bitters to the shaker containing the muddled ingredients.

Shake with ice

Fill the shaker with about 1 cup of ice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the shaker feels very cold and slightly frosted.

Double strain

Prepare a chilled coupe or rocks glass with fresh ice (if serving on the rocks) or without ice (if serving up). Double strain the shaken cocktail through a fine mesh strainer into the prepared glass to remove basil bits and cucumber pulp. This yields a clean, aromatic drink.

Thread a cucumber ribbon into a loose loop and float it in the glass or let it curl along the inside. Clap the basil sprig between your hands once to release its aroma, then place it on top of the drink. Add a lemon wheel on the rim or floated at the edge. If desired, add a final tiny dash of orange bitters on the surface for aromatic lift.

Serve immediately. Encourage the drinker to stir lightly once to incorporate garnish aromatics before sipping.