Blueberry Basil Vodka Tonic
There aren't nearly enough cocktail recipes on my blog. I love creating yummy cocktails, and I think it's high time that my blog reflects my love of libations.
We went blueberry picking early this week and nabbed a couple of gallons of juicy, sweet, and flavorful berries. These berries are so much more flavorful than anything I've ever had from the store! It's like an entirely different fruit. And they are absolutely wonderful in this cool and crisp summer cocktail!
I drink a lot of gin and tonics throughout the summer (my cocktail of choice), but I've just recently gotten into vodka tonics. The great thing about vodka is its lack of flavor-it is perfect for using as a base to add in other flavors.
I drink a gin and tonic when I want something simple and classic. I drink a vodka tonic when I want to add all kinds of crazy fun flavors (like, ahem, blueberries and basil).
Just make sure to use good vodka. Seriously, leave behind the bottom-shelf handle you used to binge drink in college (ahem, not me, no, never). Pay for some stuff from the top shelf-you won't be sorry. Better quality vodka really lets the flavor of the blueberries and sweet basil shine through.
Poor quality vodka tastes like booze. Good quality vodka tastes like almost nothing. We're lucky enough to have an amazing distillery about 10 minutes away from our house that uses local corn to make their vodka. It is gooooodddd stuff!
I've been focusing so much on our blueberry haul, that I haven't talked to about our basil! Holy cow, our basil plants are beautiful this year. Lush, green, and packed full of flavor. We plant a ton of basil every year because it is a wonderful companion plant in the garden (it helps improve the flavor of tomatoes when planted nearby), and it's so easy to preserve for the winter-we just freeze it in cubes after pureeing it in the food processor.
I pick a handful of basil almost everyday to throw into whatever we are having for dinner-there is pretty much nothing that basil doesn't go with. I know when you think "basil" you don't automatically think "sweet," but it's such a wonderful combination. Basil and chocolate are amazing together. And basil with sweet fruit? Incredible! It's a wonderfully strange pairing.
If you aren't into the hooch as much as I am, you can easily make this non-alcoholic, and it'll still taste delicious. Just leave out the vodka, and enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Blueberry-Basil Vodka Tonic
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup fresh blueberries plus extra for garnish
- 4 large basil leaves plus extra for garnish
- Ice
- Vodka
- Tonic Water
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, water, blueberries, and basil leaves in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, and continue to boil until the blueberries have popped and the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat, transfer to a heat-proof container, and then chill until cold.
- To make cocktails: fill a high ball glass (or a pint Mason jar!) with ice, add in two tablespoons of the blueberry-basil syrup, followed by 1 ½ ounces of vodka. Fill to top with tonic water. Garnish with extra blueberries and basil leaves, if desired.
Nutrition
FYI: This will be my last post for a few weeks. No worries, though! I'm just taking some much needed R&R time with my friends and family. I have SO many fun ideas that I want to implement in the next few months, and I can't wait to come at them with a fresh perspective once my vacation is over. In the mean time, you can keep up with me on social media (I can't quit you, Instagram). As always, thank you so much for being the best internet friends a gal could have. <3 See you in August!
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