Spring is here and with an abundance of fresh herbs at our fingertips my neighbor and I decided to experiment with mint, basil, gin, ginger and freshly squeezed juices. Refreshing and perfect for the warm weather ahead!

Herb Limeade Strawberry Basil Gin & Ginger

Herb Limeade

4 ½ ounces gin
3 leaves fresh basil, roughly chopped
3 leaves fresh mint, roughly chopped
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ½ ounce honey, heated up (allow to slightly cool)
Splash of club soda
Lemon Sugar Rim

Preparation:
Place the herbs, gin and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add ice and honey and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with lemon sugar. Float soda water and garnish with more mint leaves. Makes 2 cocktails

 Tip: to make sugar stick to the rim of your cocktail glass,  wipe rim with lime wedge. Also, we decided to warm the honey a bit, it allowed for better mixing.

Strawberry Basil

3  ounces gin
1 ounce fresh lime juice 
½ ounce triple sec
1 – 3 strawberries
3 leaves mint and basil, roughly chopped.
Lemon sugar rim
Splash club soda

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients except the club soda in a cocktail shaker. Muddle the strawberries and herbs together. Slice remaining strawberries and add to glass. Add ice and strain into a cocktail glass rimmed with lemon sugar. *Note: smaller pieces of herbs made its way into the cocktail so I ended up straining the leaves out after I took the photo above.

Gin & Ginger

2 ounces gin
½ orange, juiced
½ ounce agave nectar
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
3 mint leaves, torn

Preparation:
Place all ingredients in a shaker with a handful of ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with orange slice and mint leaf.