Sparkling Plum Basil Cocktail

As summer rages on, I’m seeking a cool cocktail I can sip outside in the evening after work. With extra ice in all the drinks, I also need something light and hydrating. Enter my Sparkling Plum Basil Cocktail filled with summer flavors that you may even have growing in your garden. The Recipe Redux has all of us dietitian food bloggers talking about stone fruit this July – that means peak season peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots – YUM. 

When it comes to summer cocktails, you don’t want anything too high octane. I like to lighten hard alcohol up with soda water. A hot food trend right now, La Croisx and other sparkling waters without added color or sugar make fantastic mixers for different cocktails. Get creative with various flavors, combining summer fruit and herbs (like in this Sparkling Plum Basil Cocktail) with grapefruit, lemon, lime, berry or coconut flavored sodas. 

All stone fruit is high in fiber, potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants. Whenever you see those bright colors, you can be assured that there are compounds in the fruit that could benefit your health. Stone fruits are low in calories, packed with flavor and versatile for cooking, too.  Herbs from the garden have a bright, tangy flavor that can be slightly bitter or astringent at times. That’s because of all the volatile oils and antioxidants so use those unique tastes to your advantage as you blend ingredients together to create cocktails that scream: SUMMER. 

If you want more summer drink recipes that are light, healthy(ish), and hydrating, check out my Strawberry Basil Kombucha Cocktail, Healthier Margarita or my Gin Ginger Beet Cocktail with Thyme. 

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Sparkling Plum Basil Cocktail

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Servings: 2

Author: StringMasterAdmin

Ingredients

• 1 slices ripe plum pitted, roughly chopped(save 2for garnish)
• 6 small/medium basil leaves
• 4 oz. vodka
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 oz. lime-flavored unsweetened seltzer water

Instructions

• In a cocktail shaker, muddle the chopped plum and basil leaves. Fill the shaker with ice and add vodka and honey. Place on the shaker lid and shake hard for 30-60 seconds until frothy. Pour into a glass filled with ice as needed. Top with seltzer and garnish with a wedge of plum.