Food & Drink

Swe-Dishes (and drinks): An Evening in Basil

Midsummer is right around the corner, and this week’s Swe-Dish recipe will be a surefire hit. A perfect balance of sweet and sour, along with added herbs to complement one of our favorite aquavits, An Evening in Basil is a delicious aquavit cocktail that’s almost too pretty to drink. Almost.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Øster Vit (or any aquavit of your choice)
• .75 oz lemon juice
• .5 oz honey
• .25 oz Liquore Strega
• 5-6 basil leaves

Directions

• Pour the Strega into a mixing glass and add basil leaves, muddle well.*
• Pour the rest of the ingredients, add ice and shake well until chilled.
• Double strain into a coupe glass.
• Garnish with lemon peel and enjoy!

*Muddling the herb with the Strega gives the cocktail a vibrant neon green that really stands out.

Want to make another aquavit cocktail? Try the Svenska spring!

Hootan Hadavand is an American bartender at Rappahannock Restaurant in Richmond, Va., with a newfound passion for the Scandinavian spirit aquavit. “I was first introduced to Øster Vit by my bar manager when James River Distillery first started pushing it out. We really enjoy their aquavit and always try to promote and use local products so it’s a win-win,” he said. “I like the spirit because it’s great by itself or for mixing cocktails. The herbs used in making it gives it a nice flavor that’s a little more interesting and enjoyable than other neutral grain spirits.”