Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail
Strawberries and Basil are legendary together. Add tequila and this Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail is an excellent version of a fantastic cocktail!
I decided to dig into my archives and publish some worthy recipes again. I’ll only share real favorites that might have been stuck in the past and this Strawberry Basil Margarita is both timely and so delicious it deserves to be re-introduced.
This is my third summer in a new home with a new yard but the first one didn’t count; that was all about getting grass in and keeping it and two trees alive.
Last year I started making a few changes to replace some foundation plants and this year I’ve gone nuts and finished the front yard, switching out the miserly 7 plants the yard came with and installing my own design and over 30 plants.
With that job almost complete and my poor body aching and sore I’ve cut back a bit this week but by cutting back that just means I’ve planted ten big pots in the back with tomatoes, flowers and herbs. The last to go in was basil.
I’ve planted it earlier before and Colorado’s wacky weather has too often seen it replaced because of a late snow or freeze, so I waited and yesterday got some beautiful plants.
With some fresh strawberries in the fridge, it was meant to be that I celebrated a long hot day with one of my favorites; this Strawberry Basil Margarita.
Luckily, strawberries are starting to come into the market that are red and juicy. While I consider summer the ideal time for margaritas, I’ve learned to love making diverse combinations depending on the freshest produce of the season.
Hence this delicious beverage combining strawberries and basil in a Margarita.
This vibrant and beautiful Strawberry Basil Margarita is simply a perfect one to serve if you’re like me and need a dose of spring in your glass!
I also made a Fresh Strawberry Pie today…now I’m wondering if I can serve margaritas with pie. Why not, right??? Cheers and Happy Friday!
PIN IT! ‘Strawberry Basil Margarita Cocktail’
Strawberry and Basil Margarita Cocktail
Ingredients
- 8 medium strawberries
- 6 Basil leaves
- 1 Ounce simple syrup make using 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water – heat until sugar has dissolved and then cool. Refrigerate leftovers
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 ounces Reposado tequila
- 1 ounce orange liqueur I used Patron’s Citronge
- Additional strawberries lime slices and basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Use a fresh strawberry to moisten the rim of your glass. Dip the rim in a combination of half salt/half sugar.
- In the glasses, muddle the strawberries, basil, simple syrup, lime juice and lemon juice in glasses.
- Fill glasses with ice.
- Add the remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into the rimmed glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish each glass with a strawberry, lime slice and basil leaf.
Hi Barbara
Have you ever made “Tacoritos”? The Holly West restaurant in Applewood, CO was famous for their Tacoritos. Unfortunately they closed some years ago after the owner died. My wife and I have tried making them, but they are not the same. My wife even made the cheese sauce from scratch. I would love to see a recipe from you if you have one. The recipes I tried from the web don’t quite do the original Tacorito justice.
Your neighbors – Roger & Carole
I have not Roger; sure wish I could help. I looked at some online too and nothing seemed all that appealing. If I come across anyone who knows of a good recipe I’ll make sure to share it with you.
I really enjoy basil with fruit so I’m absolutely positive that I’d love this cocktail! Perfect way to usher in strawberry season. And a beautiful photograph to boot.
You would most certainly love this then…it’s such a nice component, subtle but wonderful too.
I remember this! Or at least I think I do. Always great to see the return of a good cocktail, and this is a good one. Always fun to tinker with a recipe. Dedicated testing is so important! 😉 Good stuff — thanks.
I honestly had not remembered that I had done it BUT in my defense, it was the year that wasn’t when my life was so crazed with life issues I’m not sure how I even blogged. Guess it’s catching up with me now. But I did change the recipe and, this is huge…not straining is a good thing. Oh my are tequila and orange liqueur soaked strawberries good!
Gorgeous Barb! your cocktail looks fabulous, pinning in my cocktails folder for later. It is so interesting to see the strawberries coming in across the country 🙂 Our strawberries came into season here in December, high season was about 5 weeks ago, but the rest of the country seems to be just now seeing great Strawberries as it is Springtime. I am assuming yours are California berries as our markets have switched over as well. I have seen enough Strawberries until next year! Finishing up 11 flats today of the last of the Florida berries 🙂
I’m assuming California too Wendy; the ones I just got were beautiful; first ones I’ve seen in month worth buying! Funny how you’re over them and I’m SO excited! Of course we are still getting snow. 🙂
Love love this recipe! Basil and strawberries are my favorite flavor combo:-) I want to try Herradura Tequila, after reading about it in one of my books. So I promise I will only enjoy a top shelf tequila, no cheap bottles in my house:-) Looks fabulous, Hugs, Terra
I get a lot of tequilas sent my way and it’s been fun to try different ones; makes my old standby 1800 seem a bit lame but it’s still good in margaritas. I always advise using decent tequila but not the ‘best’ – no sense in wasting good sipping tequila by mixing it with juice and sugar!
Absolutely stunning, Barb! I hope you enjoyed one (or more!) of these lovely cocktails on Mother’s Day. Your combination of strawberries and basil is inspired! Hugs to you!
Strawberry and basil margaritas sound perfect for any day!!!!
We are having to move our potted plants indoors for the past several nights too. Spring can’t seem to make up it’s mind whether or not to stay around here either. As cool as it was on Mother’s Day, I would have enjoyed one of these margaritas. I really like your serving glasses.
These would be the perfect introduction for you to a margarita I love. The strawberry and basil take center stage and the tequila is just a nudge. I’ll make a whole pitcher or ten if you come visit. 🙂
Aloha! Lovely drinks but I must ask about the glasses. Where have you found those lovely glasses?
Aloha Fred! Hmm, I don’t recall; I’ve had them for several years. I ‘think’ Crate and Barrel but too long ago for them to still be there I’m afraid.
Okay, what isn’t super cute in that picture? Love the glasses and your swirly metal toothpicks! And those strawberry and basil margaritas look outstanding! I’ll take a few to go!
Thanks Laura…I’ve got most of my stuff in storage so working with limited props. SO thankful I remembered to bring these glasses; they’re my faves for margaritas!
Yep- that cocktail will do me just fine and the tequila should knock me out for just about the right amount of time!
This margarita is simply lovely! Since you know of my love of herbs in fruit and well, this very same combination recently 😉 I know this must be wonderful. I love the addition of orange liqueur and maraschino liqueur. I need to give this a try!
This flavor combination is really interesting, and I love basil, so I’ll need to give it a try. A good tequilla makes all the difference, doesn’t it? 🙂
That it does Crystal; and I’m not suggesting top of the line either…just something better than low end!
Even here is So Cal basil can be fickle to the chill. Most herbs I keep year round, but basil has to be pulled out each December and planted again in March. By May day it is well on it way to summer bounty. GREG
You are lucky…once a freeze hits we lose almost everything but thyme and sage. I think I know why sage is so prevalent in Thanksgiving dishes…it was the only fresh herb still alive!
I honestly have to try this strawberry-basil combination! This looks absolutely delicious!!
it is Yvonne; hope you enjoy it too.
LOL @ do it for mom. I love this margarita and those photos make me want to crawl into your room on hands and knees begging for one of these.
Thanks for the chuckle…crawl on over! 🙂
Nice recipe! I particularly like the idea of the Maraschino liqueur. I’ve had strawberries and basil together, but not often; they pair quite well. Good stuff – thanks!
It was nice…much like the basil, a great addition to the overall flavor but not really a unique and separate flavor. We loved this John…very fresh; very much a great spring flavor.
B, I. DIE. Just LOOOOVE Margaritas…and, strawberries and basil as a combination rock my world. Yes, only Grand Marnier for this gal, no Triple Sec! (We top-shelf gals know our Margaritas, don’t we?) Totally crushing on this Margarita of yours, B! Come on, sunny summer! Outstanding food photography, too…love the curly cocktail pick! Pinning to group board at Pinterest! xo P.S. OH! Happy Mother’s Day, too! Love ya! *mwah!*
I’ll have some made today and we’ll be outside on the patio…come on over! You have a great day too Stacy; ‘mwah’ back at ya!
Another beautiful cocktail Barb! I really don’t know how you come up with so many great ones! Margaritas are my favorite, really want one now! Love those wicker glass stems.
I have more ideas than time to make them all Jayne…means a new blog in the making maybe? Maybe!
Hmmm.. may just have to leave this up on my laptop for a “certain” people to see… “hint, hint”… beautiful Margarita Barb – love the idea of using lemon simple syrup for it too!!
Funny you should mention that…I was going to use plain simple syrup but I had made the lemon for another cocktail and decided it couldn’t hurt; I didn’t want to have to make a chill another plain batch. How I often ‘recipe develop’ – whatever is on hand! 🙂
have you thought about rooting a stem – for back-up. I snipped three – put them in a small glass on a window sill and voila 7 days!! almost ready to plant.
I had that happen accidentally last year Kay and managed to keep some fresh basil all winter long. Who knew? Well…I guess you did!
Such heart warming, eye-chilling drink ! Beautiful photos 🙂
Another beautiful drink! I can relate to your outdoor plant problems. I have been moving my small container plants inside and outside all week and keep hoping that I don’t forget one night leaving them outside. So far so good. It looks like we might be headed to spring weather now and I am looking forward to the sunshine. Have a Happy Mother’s Day, Barb!
If there is one thing I miss about the Midwest and South it’s putting things in the ground the middle of April…I get antsy and then give myself way more work because I just can’t wait! Seems we might actually be in spring now huh? Fingers firmly crossed.