Back for Summer: the Strawberry-Basil Mojito

Now that summertime is officially here, I'm ready for a lot of hot weather friendly drinks--especially the rum-based ones.  This week, a small bag of basil leaves showed up in my Rosebank Farms CSA share and that, along with the load of fresh local strawberries still in my fridge, all but demanded that I drag out an old favorite recipe: the strawberry basil mojito.  

It's a wonderful variation on the Cuban classic that I first encountered out at The Lettered Olive on the Isle of Palms and then concocted my own recipe in imitation.  The strawberry, basil, and lime meld splendidly together, and the aroma of the basil when you first muddle it into the sugar is nothing short of sublime.

Here's my recipe:

4 - 6 large, fresh basil leaves

2 - 3 strawberries, sliced

1 T sugar

3 T rum

Juice of 1 lime

2 T of club soda

This is really enough for two to share, or you could make it a double and keep it all to yourself.  

To create: put the basil and sugar in a cocktail shaker.  Muddle vigorously until the basil is starting to break into bits and blending into the sugar. Add the strawberries and press with the muddle until well mashed and incorporated into the basil and sugar. Pour in the rum, lime juice, and  ice.  Shake until well blended. Pour into two rocks glasses (or one big one, if you're doing the double) and top with club soda.  Garnish with a lime and enjoy.