Basil Hayden Recipe
Make Basil Hayden Recipe in just 10m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Method
Cocktail
Prepare
Chill a coupe or rocks glass by filling with ice water and set aside. Measure out all ingredients so they are ready to use.
Muddle basil
In a cocktail shaker, place 6 fresh basil leaves and 0.5 oz simple syrup. Gently muddle the basil with a muddler or the back of a spoon 6–8 times to release aromatic oils without shredding the leaves into pieces.
Build drink
Add 2 oz bourbon, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.25 oz dry vermouth, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice (about 1 cup) to properly chill and dilute the cocktail.
Shake
Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well chilled and slightly frosted. This both chills and lightly aerates the cocktail and integrates the basil flavor.
Strain
Discard the ice water from the chilled glass. Double-strain the mixture into the chilled coupe or rocks glass using a Hawthorne strainer plus a fine mesh strainer to remove basil bits and ice shards. If you prefer the cocktail on the rocks, strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
Serve
Serve immediately. Sip and notice the bright basil aroma balanced with the bourbon's spice and the citrus acidity.