Basil Martini

A gin or vodka martini with a single basil leaf — clean and herbaceous, with just enough green to make it feel like something new.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.

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Build Your Drink

Ingredients

2 ½ ounces gin or vodka
½ ounce dry vermouth
1 basil leaf, in the shaker
1 basil leaf, for garnish

Cocktail method

Add the gin or vodka and the dry vermouth to a shaker glass.
Gently slap a basil leaf to release its oils, then drop it into the shaker with the liquor.
Add ice and shake until well chilled.
Double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
Garnish with an expressed basil leaf.

Notes from the Bar

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

Ritual Tip: Savor the Basil

Before you shake, gently press the basil leaf between your fingers and take a quick inhale. The fresh aroma sets the tone for the whole drink. After pouring, gently press the garnish leaf before placing on the cocktail. This release a little more basil essence. Creating a small sensory moment like this elevates the cocktail experience.

Basil Expression

A gentle slap is enough to release the oils without tearing the leaf. Over-muddling can make the drink bitter.

Cocktail Term: Double StraiN

Double straining means pouring the cocktail through both a shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove tiny ice shards or herb bits. This creates a smoother, more refined sip for cocktails served up. → Link to our cocktail strainer

Vermouth Quality

Because this martini is so simple, use a fresh, good-quality dry vermouth. If yours has been open more than a month, grab a new bottle.

Glassware

A chilled coupe or Nick & Nora keeps the drink crisp and refined. No ice needed.

Garnish Tip

Express the basil leaf by bending it slightly before placing it on the rim. This brings out the perfume beautifully.

Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.

A ritual we return to

Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.

Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.

It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.

Four nights.
No planning required.

Choose your menu, set the table, and enjoy the night.

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We created this for you — and the one you love.

Kevin & Kate

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