Ingredients

1 ½ ounce gin
1 ounce fresh strawberry puree
1 ounce lemon juice
¼ ounce basil syrup*
1/2  ounce Sweet Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar*
Rose sparkling wine
Black Pepper Dried Strawberry (recipe follows)

Directions

Place the gin, strawberry puree, lemon juice, basil syrup and shrub in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain onto an old fashioned champagne glass or coupe and fill with rose.  Garnish the side of the glass with a Black Pepper Dried Strawberry.

*Basil Syrup- Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup basil leaves and stems and 1 tablespoon lemon zest in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool and strain.

*Sweet Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar- In a medium sauce pan, combine  ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 1 -2 handfuls of basil stems and  leaves, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 smashed strawberries, 1 tablespoon black peppercorns (crushed coarsely) and 1 cup balsamic vinegar.  Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to boil gently for about 10 minutes. The mixture should reduce by about one fourth.  Turn off the heat and allow to cool completely.  Strain and chill.

Black Pepper Dried Strawberries
Makes 1 cup dried fruit

Ingredients

3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
2 cups strawberries, de-stemmed and sliced thin

Directions

Preheat oven to 225°F. Mix sugar, vinegar and black pepper in a bowl .  Arrange strawberries on a lined baking sheet and sprinkle sugar mixture on the strawberries on both sides.  Place in oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours or until dried through. Store in an airtight container up to 4 weeks.