Strawberry Lemonade Basil Mocktail Recipe

This post is going to show you exactly how to make a delicious Strawberry Lemonade Mocktail with a kick of basil! 

Anyone can join in on having a delicious beverage! Alcohol or not, at Sweet Nectar we want to make sure your drink is full of flavor. This monthly mocktail is packed with fresh lemon juice, homemade strawberry syrup, fresh basil, and club soda! Get with some friends on a Spring day, make yourselves a glass, and soak in some rays of sun!

I call this:

“Equinox” 

What You Will Need

Citrus and Other Fresh Ingredients:

Of course for this strawberry lemonade mocktail we will be wanting to use Fresh Lemon Juice! Fresh juice is always the way to go. Once you taste the difference there will be no turning back! You get that sharp flavor from the rind of the fruit, and it just elevates your cocktail every single time. Above I am using my Stainless Steel Hand Pressed Citrus Juicer! This thing has got to be one of my favorite tools I own. It makes it so easy to make individual cocktails, it has a convenient little pour spout, and it’s fun to use for little dinner parties! I highly recommend getting one for your home bar so you can start using fresh fruit as soon as possible!

Next I will show you how to make some tasty Homemade Strawberry Syrup! This syrup will be rich in flavor and add some dimension to this mocktail recipe. For this recipe we will be using a 2 part sugar to 1 part water and 1 part fresh strawberry ratio. As you can see in the photo above I like to store my syrups and juices in glass bottles with a pour spout! Not only do these bottles fit in the fridge easily, they also add a professional aspect to your home bar! This syrup will last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks. Be sure to label and date your bottles so you are always serving yourself and guests the freshest product! You can check out awesome bottles just like mine right HERE!

• In pot on the stove add 2 parts white sugar to 1 part water
• Turn heat on high
• Stir continuously to make sure the sugar starts to dissolve evenly
• Once sugar starts to dissolve add in 1 part freshly cut strawberries
• Keep stirring mixture and use a Muddler to crush the strawberries
• Once mixture comes to a slight boil turn down the heat and continue to stir
• Once sugar is completely dissolved and you have a syrup like consistency pull off of the heat
• Let syrup steep for 45 minutes – 1 hour
• Strain into a secure container and refrigerate

Now for the ingredient that really brings this whole cocktail together, Fresh Basil! Basil and strawberries are a killer combo. Something about the taste of fresh berries and the peppery kick of basil just flows on the palate. You can pick up fresh basil at any local grocery store! For this recipe we won’t need too much, but having a little extra basil in your fridge at all times is always a good move.

After straining this strawberry lemonade mocktail, we will be filling the rest of the glass with Club Soda! I chose to use Q-Mixers Club Soda. This brand is always crisp and full of amazing carbonation. Adding this soda on top of this mocktail gives this tasty drink a sparkling component. When it’s a hot Spring or Summer day, the sparkles just add to the good vibes. You can find this mixer at almost any grocery store!

Bar Supplies:

The main component you will need for this strawberry lemonade mocktail is a shaker. I usually use a Boston shaker when building my cocktails, but recently for guests and for filming I have been using a Glass Cobbler Shaker! I love the look of this shaker and the ease of the pour. This particular shaker has a built in strainer! When you shake a cocktail you are diluting it and building it in volume at the same time! This is a crucial step for most drink builds. If you want to check out the glass shaker that I used you can do so right HERE!

Since we are using a fresh herb in this mocktail, we will need a Muddler! A muddler is a tool used to express or break down an ingredient. You push down on the handle and twist. For herbs especially this releases a lot of flavor. I usually like to muddle herbs in whatever sweetener I am using. For this mocktail specifically I like to muddle the basil right in the strawberry syrup. This really lets that basil flavor settle into the mocktail nicely. Check out the exact same muddler I use in the bar right HERE!

The next bar tool that you will need is a Jigger. Jiggers are what you use to measure the ingredients you are adding into your drink! This is a necessary tool to have for your home bar. My jigger shown above ranges from 1/4th oz to 2 oz.If you want to check out one identical to mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

I must say that when I was just a beginner in the bartending world, I used a jigger that was much more simplified. It was great and truly let me build my skills with confidence. This jigger has only one side, very clear measurement lines, and a pour spout! If you’re just beginning and want to use this jigger to learn I will link the exact one I used to use RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you can see in the photo above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. You can find an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginners Kit : HERE

Advanced Kit : HERE

Let’s Build!