Summer Peach Basil Martini

Summer Peach Basil Martini. Summer is definitely upon us here in Virginia. We’ve had quite a few hot and humid days over the past two months and we’re headed into a scorching weekend with “feels like” 105 – 110 degrees temperatures. What’s a better way to cool down and enjoy your Summer Happy Hour than with a sun-ripened summery peach-based cocktail?

Peaches are widely available in the produce department of grocery stores in my area in summertime. Most peaches that we get are trucked from Georgia and other Southern states or flown in from the West Coast. Picked before they’re ripe and refrigerated in transit, by the time they arrive, they’re usually hard and don’t last more than a few days before turning brown and soft.

The previous case of California peaches that I bought from Trader Joe’s were hard as a rock and never did ripen. Instead of eating those hard peaches, I cut them up for future smoothies yet I could have also made peach jam. Still looking for good specimens, I was lucky to get a few good local Pennsylvania and Virginia grown peaches at the farmer’s market. Now what to do with such lovely peaches?

Normally, I love to make a peach galette with summer peaches. A galette is sort of a rustic tart. It’s pretty simple to make with just a simple dough and a sliced fresh peach filling. You can serve it warm from the oven or chilled. The galette will freeze nicely for a surprise summer dessert in the middle of winter.

Now back to my Peach Basil Martini recipe. Basil is going gangbusters in gardens around my area. In my kitchen garden outside, I was able to select a few nice sprigs of organic Genovese basil from my pots. Use your own garden basil if you grow it yourself or find it at your grocer or farmers market.

There are quite a few peach-flavored vodkas on the market these days. My favorites are Stolichnaya’s Peachik vodka, Absolut’s Apeach vodka and New Amsterdam’s peach vodka. Use your favorite.

In a cocktail shaker, muddle some diced peach with some chopped basil. Add some simple sugar syrup or agave syrup and muddle some more. Then add 5 – 6 ice cubes. Pour in some peach vodka and plain vodka. Add a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Shake the contents until the ice starts to break up. Strain the martini with a fine mesh sieve strainer into a martini glass, garnish with a slice or two of peach and serve!

If you love peaches like I do, check out my other peach-based recipes.

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Enjoy!!

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From the kitchen of A Food Lover’s Delight….

Summer Peach Basil Martini

Ingredients:

1/2 ripe peach, pit removed, diced, skin left on
3 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 oz simple syrup or agave syrup
5 – 6 ice cubes
2 oz Stolichnaya, Absolut or New Amsterdam peach vodka
1 oz plain vodka
1/2 t freshly squeezed lemon juice
Peach slices, for garnish

Special equipment:

Cocktail shaker
Muddler
Fine mesh sieve strainer

Method:

1. Muddle the diced peach, basil, and simple or agave syrup in the cocktail shaker to intensify the flavors of the ingredients.
2. Remove the muddler and add 5 – 6 ice cubes.
3. Pour in the peach and plain vodkas and the lemon juice.
4. Cover and shake the contents of the cocktail shaker until the ice starts to break up in the shaker.
5. Strain the martini through a fine mesh sieve strainer into a martini glass.
6. Garnish with a peach slice and serve!

Makes one martini. Offer with my Peach Pistachio Ricotta Toasts, my Cinnamon Pecans, or your favorite mixed nuts.

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