3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (preferably Meyer lemons)
1/2 cup sugar
1 lemon, thinly sliced
18 basil leaves
Ice
Directions
Martinis can be made ahead and be ready to be shaken to order as soon as your guests arrive.
In a small sauce pot, warm the lemon juice and 6 basil leaves over low heat. Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Chill completely.
Remove the basil leaves and, in a large pitcher, combine the vodka and lemon-juice-sugar mixture. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Fill your cocktails shaker 3/4 of the way with ice, add 2 basil leaves, and pour in lemon-drop martini. Shake. Serve in a martini glass with 1 fresh basil leaf for garnish.
Alternative recipe
Lemon ginger martini: Exchange the basil for 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped ginger. Before adding the lemon-sugar mixture to the pitcher, strain out the ginger with a fine mesh strainer.
