National Martini Day is celebrated each year on June  19.  The sole purpose of this “holiday” is to drink martinis. Seems like the alcohol industry is copying a page out of Hallmark’s play book! But it is Friday, our usual martini night, so I’m giving in to the ‘Holiday to Boost Commercial Gains Consortium’ and going with a martini recipe.  After all, the martini is one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages.

There are 3 primary claims to the invention of martini. The earliest legend says that this invention belongs to a San Francisco bar owner, Professor Jerry Thomas. Around 1850 a miner offered Thomas a nugget of gold to create a special drink for him. The miner was en route to Martinez, California, hence the name of the drink. The stronger claim of martini invention belongs to the city of Martinez itself. Bartender Julio Richelieu made a martini using gin, sweet vermouth, bitters and an olive, in the latter half of the 1800s. The 3rd legend links the first dry martini to the name of a bartender who concocted the drink at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City around 1911.

The classic martini is made with gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or lemon twist. That traditional martini has undergone a number of variations and other flavors have evolved. Basically, anything served in a martini-style glass with a name ending in -tini is considered a martini. To celebrate this “holiday”, I wanted to go with just a slight twist on the original, using a lemon & basil combination. But I really don’t like gin & vermouth. We prefer martinis made with vodka so I improvised to concoct this original recipe.

Lemon-Lime & Basil Martini

Lemon-Lime & Basil Martini

(an original cocktail by Linda J Heuser)

Makes 2 drinks

Ingredients:

• 6 large basil leaves, coarsely torn or chopped
• 4-6 slices of lemon
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 5 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce limoncello
• 1 ounce lime juice

Directions:  In a cocktail shaker, muddle the torn basil leaves with the slices of lemon.

Muddling the basil allows the its flavor to permeate the drink.

Add ice to the shaker then add the simple syrup, vodka, limoncello & lime juice. Shake vigorously. Strain the mixture into a martini glass and serve.

The start of our National Martini Day celebration!

Cheers!  ~Linda

Lemon-Lime & Basil Martini (an original by Linda J Heuser) Makes 2 drinks

Ingredients:

• 6 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
• 4-6 slices of lemon
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• 5 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce limoncello
• 1 ounce lime juice

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the chopped basil leaves with the slices of lemon. Add ice to the shaker then add the simple syrup, vodka, limoncello & lime juice. Shake vigorously. Strain mixture into a martini glass and serve.