I love a well crafted cocktail. I especially love cocktails using fresh ingredients like herbs and flowers and vegetables. Before the pandemic I almost never made cocktails at home, maybe a gin and tonic or a margarita. I do love to order them when we go out. During the pandemic when we weren’t going anywhere I started making cocktails at home.

This is a fun drink. It’s pretty much a gussied up gin and tonic. You can personalize this with what you have and what you like. I used Thai basil leaves here. You could use mint or thyme or lemon verbena, Italian basil,  maybe tarragon, or mix of any of herbs you like. I also used agave as a sweetener instead of sugar. I have been using agave more and more in my cooking. It taste like sugar and mixes easily into dishes without having to dissolve like sugar does. You can leave the sweetener out too. The tonic has a little bit of sweetness to it.

This amount makes one drink, multiply as needed.

• 1 1/2 oz gin (1 1/2 oz equals 3 Tbsp)
• 6 slices cucumber
• 1/4 medium lime (sliced)
• 4 oz tonic water
• a small fist full of any herb you like-I can tell you mint, basil, thyme are all good. 
• 1 Tbsp sweetener, agave, honey, sugar  (optional)