Drink of the Week: Kumquat-Basil Cooler

I wanted to get this post up before it was too late for you to find a kumquat. This is a lovely cooler made of Martini & Rossi's Bianco vermouth (not the same thing as dry vermouth, it's spicier, sort of like a poor man's Lillet Blanc), soda water, kumquats and basil.

Ideally, you should use simple syrup for this drink, but if you don't have any, put one teaspoonful of sugar and a splash of water in the bottom of the mixing glass. Swirl to dissolve the sugar then proceed with the muddling.

Kumquat-Basil Cooler (for two)

Muddle together

• 5 or 6 kumquats
• 6 sprigs of Thai (regular Italian) basil
  
• 1/2 ounce of simple syrup

Add 4 ounces Bianco vermouth and shake with ice to chill.

Strain into tall glasses and top with soda water, garnish with a sprig of basil.