Cucumber Basil Gimlet

In a pot, combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water and 10 basil leaves. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let the basil infuse for 20 minutes and until the mixture has cooled. Strain out the basil and set the simple syrup aside.

Peel a large English cucumber and cut it into chunks. Place it into your food processor or blender and pulse for 2 minutes. Remove mixture and place it into a fine mesh strainer and push out the juice into another bowl. Discard whatever cannot be pushed through the strainer into the juice. Set juice aside.

In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 ounce of basil simple syrup, 1 ounce cucumber juice, 3 ounces gin, 1 ounce of lime juice and ice cubes. Shake, shake, shake, and taste. If it’s too strong, add 1 more ounce of basil simple syrup. Shake again and serve over ice.