Spring Cocktail Rhubarb Basil Cocktail

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Total time:

Ingredients:

Rhubarb Basil Cocktail

Makes 1 drink

3 medium to large basil leaves, rolled and cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons rhubarb purée (recipe follows)
1 1/2 ounces vodka
Ice
Club soda

Put the basil in the bottom of a glass and press with the back of a spoon to bruise slightly. Add the rhubarb purée and stir. Add vodka and ice cubes and top with club soda. Garnish with a basil leaf.

Rhubarb Purée

Makes about 2 cups

12 to 13 stalks of rhubarb
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Chop the rhubarb into small 1/2-inch pieces. Put in a medium saucepan with the sugar and water. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the rhubarb is soft.

Transfer the mixture to a food processor or blender (or use an immersion blender) and purée until smooth. Set a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the rhubarb through the strainer, pressing to get as much of the rhubarb pulp out as possible. Discard the leftover fibrous bits.

Recipes Notes

• Use the leftover rhubarb purée from this cocktail poured over ice cream, or stir into a rhubarb fool.

This recipe has been updated. Originally posted May 2008.

Instructions: