Spicy Gingepeño Basil Smash

This drink is based off one we had at one of our favorite Raleigh restaurants. When Derek had a sip of mine that night out, he said, "that is a flavor I have never tasted before."  The goal is for it to have a really "green" flavor.  The heat of the jalapeños definitely comes out, but even more than that, their flavor does.  Add hints of ginger and a squeeze of lemon for a really fresh flavor and sprigs of muddled fresh basil to up the "green" flavor, and you have an incredibly refreshing and delicious cocktail.

Recipe:

-10 jalapeños, stemmed and seeded

-4 inches ginger, sliced

-sugar

-fresh basil sprigs

-jalapeño, sliced

-ice

-vodka

-juice of 1 lemon

->  To make the simple syrup, place jalapeños and ginger in a medium pot.  Cover with water and bring to a slow, rolling boil.  Allow to boil slowly for about 40 minutes to an hour.  Strain out the peppers and ginger.  Mix the infused water with equal parts sugar and stir until completely dissolved.  At this point, the syrup will keep in a jar in the fridge for weeks, or you can use it now to make these cocktails!  

Muddle a sprig of fresh basil and one slice of jalapeño in the bottom of two glasses.  Fill with ice.  In a shaker (or an improvised shaker, aka mason jar with lid, like the one pictured below), mix 2 parts vodka, 1 part syrup, 1 part water, and juice of one lemon.  Add ice, place the lid on firmly and shake!  

Pour shaker's contents over ice in glasses.  Check that the taste is too your liking and feel free to adjust syrup, vodka, water, or lemon accordingly.  Careful, they're dangerous!  

~*TIP: The drink will get hotter and hotter as the jalepeno sits in it, so the slower you drink, the spicier your last sips will be!  *~