Ingredients

Directions

In a shaker filled with ice, combine gin, lillet, blood orange juice and cinamon basil syrup. Shake well and strain into a lowball glass filled with ice or a martini-style glass. Garnish with a lillet-soaked cucumber and cinnamon basil leaf.

Cinnamon Basil Syrup

Makes 1 cup syrup

Ingredients

½ cup to 2 cups sugar
½ cup to 2 cups water
½ cup fresh cinnamon basil leaves

Directions

Place water, sugar and cinnamon basil leaves in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for a few more minutes. Take off heat and allow to cool. Strain out basil leaves. Bottle and refrigerate.

Makes four Margaritas

INGREDIENTS

6-8 oz tequila
2 oz orange liquor (Triple Sec or any higher end brand is fine)
juice of two Blood oranges
juice of two limes
1 tablespoon of thyme leaves
a pinch of salt

PREPARATION

Mix 6-8 oz tequila, 2 oz orange liquor (Triple Sec or any higher end brand is fine), the juice of two Blood oranges, the juice of two limes, one tablespoon of thyme leaves, and a pinch of salt in a shaker. Shake well and strain into lowball glasses that have been rimmed with a combination of salt and fresh thyme over shaved or crushed ice and garnish with a slice of blood orange.