Ginger Basil Mojito
Check back each week as we challenge a new St. Louis bartender extraordinaire to come up with a drink that fits our monthly Thirsty Thursday theme. They’re pulling out all the stops, armed with their most inventive tricks, fresh-squeezed juices, superior liquors and house-made infusions. Their creations are sure to keep your taste buds guessing.
The Bartender:
Dani Davis
The Bar:
Van Goghz Martini Bar & Bistro, 3200 Shenandoah Avenue, Tower Grove East.
The Challenge:
As St. Louis faces record heat, we challenged bartenders to make us a drink that cools us off.
The Drink:
Ginger Basil Mojito
2 oz ginger vodka
5 basil leaves, muddled
2 slices lime
1 teaspoon minced ginger
a splash of simple syrup
2 oz club soda
When the thermometer seems to be stuck above 100 degrees, there’s nothing we love more than a light and refreshing mojito. Dani gave us just what the doctor ordered by whipping up a new spin on the classic cocktail. She added a bit of flavor with ginger vodka, and substituted basil for the standard mint. We thought the ginger complemented the lime perfectly, and gave the mojito just the tiniest kick. The cool, clean drink provided us with the perfect respite from the scorching St. Louis heat. It certainly cured our summertime blues!
Dani Davis
What’s your favorite drink?
A mojito. We make a really good chocolate mojito at Van Goghz.
What’s the weirdest request you’ve gotten?
A man asked me to put my finger in his drink every time I made it “to make it sweeter.”
Someone orders ________ and you automatically know they have no idea what they’re talking about.
We get a lot of people ordering a manhattan or a cosmo because they heard it on Sex and the City and think it sounds cool. Then, they take a sip and realize it’s much stronger than they realized.
