Raspberry-Basil Cocktail

I made a cocktail with the raspberry vodka and some basil. Thanks to my friend Matt for some advice on cocktail making. He's both a fabulous bartender and a fantastic actor.  He also writes a blog about what he thinks about in the shower. And to The Pickle Juice Guy, as he's requested to be called on the blog, (yeah, we're still friends) for a suggesting a name for the cocktail.

Meet the (tentatively titled) Raspberry Bush Cocktail. It's refreshing. It's delicious. It's mostly local (except the sugar and lime). It's mostly organic (I'm not sure about the vodka, but the potatoes it's made from are grown using sustainable agriculture practices). And it has the requisite "it could be dirty, but maybe it's not" cocktail name. Or as The Pickle Juice Guy described the name: "It's got the Shrek factor. Innocent enough for kids to enjoy, but with a little edge for the parents."

What more could you want?

Raspberry Bush Cocktail

2 oz rasberry-infused vodka
10  basil leaves
1 wedge of lime (rind still on)
1 1/4 t raw sugar
ice
a splash of sletzer or soda water

Special equipment: cocktail shaker

Muddle the basil, lime and the sugar in the bottom of the cocktail shaker (see this video for how to muddle). You'll know you're done when the lime is completely juiced. Add the ice and vodka. Shake. Strain into a chilled glass. Top with a bit of seltzer. Garnish with a small sprig of basil and a raspberry or two (if you haven't finished up the last of them with your yogurt that morning).

Matt also suggests tossing a very thin slice of serrano pepper in the mix when you muddle the basil. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like it would add another dimension to the drink (Burning Raspberry Bush Cocktail?--Biblical and a little racy all at the same time. Hmm...the name might actually work).

Enjoy after a long day, sitting in front of the fan, reading a good book (personally, I just finished The Magicians and started The Wind Up Bird Chronicle).

Seriously though, if you have a better name for this, leave it in the comments. I'm not good at this sort of thing. Or if you have a suggestion for what I should read next. I'm always looking for ideas!