As we welcome March 2025, our cocktail series "Spring Awakening" celebrates nature's reemergence with libations that showcase the season's bounty. Throughout this month, we'll explore cocktails that capture the essence of spring - featuring fresh herbs, seasonal fruits, and bright, awakening flavors that mirror the world blooming around us.
we're launching our spring series with a cocktail that perfectly bridges winter's departure and spring's arrival.
This week's feature is the "Strawberry Fields Forever" - a sophisticated tribute to both the Beatles classic and the first strawberries of spring. While strawberry cocktails date back to the Victorian era's punch bowls, this modern interpretation elevates the classic combination of strawberry and basil, a pairing first popularized in Italian cuisine before making its way into craft cocktails during the garden-to-glass movement of the early 2000s.
Don't worry about taking notes as I'm giving out the ingredients and instructions. They're always posted on bourbongospel.com
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz London dry gin
- 1 oz fresh strawberry puree
- 3 fresh basil leaves
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- Prosecco to top
- Fresh strawberry and basil sprig for garnish
For the Strawberry Puree
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- Blend until smooth, strain through fine mesh
Directions
- In a shaker, gently muddle basil leaves
- Add gin, strawberry puree, and lemon juice
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds
- Double strain into a champagne flute
- Top with chilled Prosecco
- Garnish with a fresh strawberry and basil sprig
Flavor Profile
- Primary: Fresh strawberry, botanical gin
- Secondary: Herbaceous basil
- Finish: Bright, effervescent, with subtle citrus notes
Why begin our spring series with this cocktail? The arrival of fresh strawberries has traditionally marked the beginning of spring's harvest. This cocktail celebrates that moment while demonstrating how fresh ingredients can transform familiar spirits into something extraordinary.
Pro tip: The quality of your strawberries is crucial. Look for berries that are fragrant and fully red - no white shoulders. If fresh strawberries aren't quite in season locally, a high-quality organic frozen option can work for the puree.
As always, I'm open to hear your take and input. You can reach me at [email protected]