We were in our community garden watering our vegetables the other evening and a fellow gardener said that I had to try this Cuban Basil that she had growing in her bed. I was unfamiliar with the herb and gave it a taste. It was certainly not your average Basil.

It’s summer time and the temperature is rising. This is a great cocktail to sit back and sip on your porch to cool down. It’s a riff on the White Linen cocktail which is a cucumber, elderflower, and gin based drink. Just add juice from a seasonal watermelon and you’ve got the perfect drink for a hot day.

The key to a good Martini is to make it as cold as you can. I keep my gin in the freezer for just this purpose along side the coupe.