Mango (or Peach) Basil Margarita

Servings: 1  Cocktail or 1 Pitcher (8 Cocktails)
Bartender’s Notes: To make a generous cup of Peach (or Mango Puree), you will need 1 pound (3 to 4) ripe peaches (or ¾ pound [2 small] ripe mangos). Peel, remove the flesh from the pits, then roughly chop into 1-inch pieces (you’ll need about 2 cups). Scoop the fruit into a food processor or blender, add about 2 tablespoons sugar, cover and process until completely smooth. Pour into a storage container (strain the mixture if you think there may be unblended bits), cover and refrigerate until you are ready to use, up to 3 days.

INGREDIENTS

  • For 1 Cocktail
  • Basil Salt (see recipe below) or coarse (kosher) salt
  • 1 Lime Wedge
  • 2 Fresh basil leaves
  • 1 1/2 ounces 100% blue agave blanco tequila
  • 1/2 ounce Triple Sec
  • 1 ounce Peach or Mango Puree (see Bartender’s Notes above)
  • 3/4 ounce Basil Syrup (see recipe below)
  • 6 to 10 small ice cubes (about ¾ cup)
  • For a PItcher
  • 16 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 1/2 cups 100% blue agave blanco tequila
  • 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 cup Cointreau
  • 1 cup Peach or Mango Puree (see Bartender’s Notes above)
  • 3/4 cup Basil Syrup (see recipe below)
  • 1 lime wedge
  • 6 cups ice
  • Basil Syrup
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 sprig of basil, leaves removed (you should have about 7 leaves) and roughly chopped
  • Basil Salt
  • 1 12-ounce bunch of fresh basil (usually about 10 sprigs, about 70 leaves)
  • 1/4 cup coarse (kosher) salt

INSTRUCTIONS

For 1 Cocktail:

Spread the Basil salt onto a small plate, moisten the rim of a 6-ounce martini glass with the lime wedge, and upend the glass onto the mixture to crust the rim.

In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle the basil leaves with a cocktail muddler or a wooden spoon until roughly mashed.  Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, Peach (or Mango) Puree, Basil Syrup and ice. Cover and shake vigorously until frothy and cold; tiny ice crystals will appear in the drink after about 15 seconds of shaking. Strain into the salt-crusted martini glass and serve immediately.

For a Pitcher:

In the bottom of a pitcher, muddle the basil leaves with a cocktail muddler or wooden spoon until coarsely mashed. Add the tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, Peach (or Mango) Puree and Basil Syrup.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.

Crust the rims of 8 6-ounce martini glasses as described above. Fill a cocktail shaker ¾ full with ice, and pour in 1 ½ cups of the margarita mixture (be sure to include some of the muddled basil from the bottom of the pitcher). Shake, strain into 3 of the salt-crusted glasses, and repeat for the remaining margaritas.

Basil Syrup

Measure the sugar and ½ cup water into a small saucepan and set over medium heat.  Add the basil and bring to a simmer.  Cook for 2 minutes, remove from the heat, cool and strain. The syrup will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator, tightly covered. (Drizzle leftovers over halved, peeled peaches, roast at 450 degrees until tender and browned: these are incredible served with ice cream.)

Basil Salt

Pull the basil leaves from the stems (you’ll have 2 loosely packed cups).  On a rimmed baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper, spread the leaves out in a single layer.  Heat your oven to its lowest setting (160 degrees is ideal), then slide in the basil and heat it—really it’s dehydrating—until the leaves are dry, about 30 minutes depending on your temperature.  (If you oven has a convection fan, use it here.) Cool. Using a small food processor, electric spice grinder or a mortar and pestle, coarsely pulverize the dried basil (you’ll get about 2 tablespoons), then stir into the coarse salt. Yield: About 6 tablespoons.