This Strawberry Basil Vodka Cocktail is amazingly simple to prepare and the perfect refreshing sip for summer! Filled with fresh strawberries, sweet basil, crisp lemon-lime flavored soda and subtle vodka, this fruity cocktail is ideal for relaxing or entertaining! Bonus, it can pull double duty and easily transform into a mocktail!
Updated: This post was originally published in May 2017. I edited the photos and updated the post below to include more information about strawberry cocktails.
Hi, friends! Can you believe memorial day and the unofficial start of summer is only four days away?! Four!! As in just 96 hours! Or, merely 5,760 minutes! I mean, whoa (<- said exactly like Joey Lawrence), right?
Winter seemed to go on for forever. And, spring has gone by in a flash. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – father time is a mystery. But, according to Madonna, I guess that’s just life in general.
I just hope summer decides to mimic winter and stay for a while! I’d like to savor every last drop of summer and bask in all of its warmth and glory! Plus, I’d like to enjoy a beach vacation, summer barbecues on repeat and ALL the fruity, fresh cocktails life has to offer! Because, you simply can’t do summer without a refreshing cocktail… or three!
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Strawberry Basil Vodka Cocktail
The liquid embodiment of summer is happening right here!
This strawberry mixed drink is sweet, tart, herbaceous, fruit forward and packed with fresh flavors! With prominent notes of juicy strawberries and aromatic basil; an effervescent touch of soda, a splash of boozy vodka, plus a sweet sugar-coated rim, this cocktail is a smooth sipper! It’s incredibly refreshing and perfect for relaxing or serving at summer soirées, pool parties, picnics and barbecues!
Want to win at life and get the party started this summer!? Skip the stress and craft a big batch! Pour it into a pitcher, grab a few straws, and toast to summer in sassy strawberry spritzer style, my friends!
What is a strawberry cocktail?
A strawberry cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink, which relies heavily on strawberries for a fruit forward taste. A fruit cocktail can include one or more spirits mixed with either fresh muddled strawberries, strawberry syrup, strawberry liqueur, or all three! Strawberry cocktails can be served on ice or frozen as a margarita. They can also include a fresh garnish, such as basil or limes.
While there’s a vast variety of strawberry cocktails, they all rely on the flavor of fresh or frozen strawberries!
Which vodka is best for mixing cocktails?
You are definitely not alone if you have ordered a cocktail and been unsure of which brand of vodka to select! It can be intimidating and difficult to choose the best brand of alcohol for mixed drinks.
Despite its reputation as being neutral in flavor, vodka actually has a wide range of flavor profiles and aromas. Different brands are in fact better suited for different cocktails.
For fruity, juicy cocktails you should opt for a brand that has a smooth and slightly dry taste to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries. However, there is no need to break the bank and buy an expensive brand. The vodka taste will mostly be hidden in the sweet-fruity taste of the cocktail. Just make sure you select a quality brand with an easy-drinking taste if you decide to go the budget-friendly route!
Vodkas to try with fruity cocktails:
- Tito’s Handmade Vodka: Tito’s is made in Texas and has a cult-like following. It’s easy to drink and economical in price.
- Smirnoff: American made Smirnoff has an ultra smooth mouthfeel and bright taste. It blends seamlessly with fruit-forward mixed drinks!
- Ketel One: Ketel One has a citrus-forward flavor with a neutral, dry finish. It offers the perfect balance and is a delicious match for sweet-tart cocktails!
- Crop Cucumber Organic Vodka: If you are looking for something different, cooling cucumber flavored vodka is a delicious option!
How much vodka do I need for a cocktail?
When preparing a cocktail at home you should aim for a harmonious blend of flavors. With that said, you should also make the cocktail to your specific taste!
The Golden Ratio mixologists use to create cocktails is simple, it’s 2:1:1.
- 2 parts spirit (vodka, rum, tequila or gin in this case)
- 1 part sweet (strawberry syrup)
- 1 part tart (lemon-lime soda)
However, this strawberry cocktail recipe uses equal parts of all three components to craft a cocktail that is much smoother to sip. If you want a cocktail that celebrates its booziness, by all means, double the amount of vodka or halve the amount of syrup and soda!
What can I use instead of vodka?
Not a fan of vodka and need a good alternative? Below are four good substitutes for vodka in mixed drinks.
- White Rum: White rum is light-bodied with a slightly sweet taste. It is more subtle and better suited for fruity mixed drinks than dark rum.
- Blanco Tequila: Also called silver or white tequila, Blanco tequila is characterized by its clear appearance. It is typically agave-forward, with notes of citrus and pepper. For the best taste, look for a 100% agave tequila.
- Aquavit: Produced in Scandinavian countries, aquavit is a flavoured, distilled spirit that is dry in flavor. While there are various aromatic flavours used in production, look for ones with lemon or orange peel as opposed to fennel and anise, or caraway and cumin.
- Gin: While the botanicals of gin can add an extra layer of complexity to drinks, they don’t mix well with fruity libations. Select a brand of gin that is citrus-heavy such as Roku or Amalfi which will create a cocktail with lots of zing!
How to mix a vodka cocktail?
It can be tough to know when to shake versus when to stir a cocktail. A general rule of thumb is that you shake a cocktail if there is something other than alcohol in the drink. Essentially, you shake a cocktail whenever you need to ensure that every ingredient is fully incorporated into the cocktail.
Cocktails to shake:
- Cocktails made with citrus, fruit juices, simple syrup and sour mix
- Mixed drinks made with cream, cream liqueurs, eggs or other dairy products
Cocktails to stir:
- Cocktails made entirely of spirits, including bitters
- Libations made with soda, tonic or sparkling wine
Since this strawberry cocktail recipe contains both fruit juice and soda, it will be shaken first and then topped off with soda. Do not attempt to add the effervescent soda to the shaker and then proceed to shake. You will end up with a flat cocktail at best, or an exploding shaker at worst.
How to shake a strawberry cocktail:
- Add cocktail ingredients first. Add the cocktail ingredients to the shaker and then fill it halfway to the top with ice.
- Use large ice. The larger and denser the ice cube, the better. Smaller ice cubes, such as crushed or chipped ice, will dilute faster, resulting in a watered down drink.
- Shake until the shaker is cold to the touch. Forget about any fancy techniques. You only need to vigorously shake the cocktail long enough to chill, aerate and slightly dilute the drink. A good rule of thumb is to shake for 10 seconds, or until the shaker begins to frost and is cold to the touch.
- Add soda last. Shake the primary vodka cocktail ingredients first, and then add the soda.
- Strain the cocktail. After adding the soda, immediately strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
Can I turn this into a strawberry mocktail?
Absolutely! To make it a mocktail, add extra strawberry syrup and lemon-lime soda to replace the vodka!
Can I use frozen strawberries for a cocktail?
If berries are in season, I highly recommend using fresh strawberries! However, you can also use (unsweetened) frozen strawberries. Place the frozen strawberries in a large bowl and thaw before pureeing.
Accomplish ALL your cocktail goals and add this Strawberry Vodka Cocktail to your summer libation rotation!
In light of Memorial Day, I will not be posting on Monday, so until next Thursday friends, cheers – to sipping on summer with a refreshing summer cocktail… or two!
XOXO
Cheyanne
Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
More fruity cocktail recipes:
Blackberry Peach Elderflower Cocktail
How to make a Strawberry Basil Vodka Cocktail at home 👇
Strawberry Basil Vodka Cocktail
Equipment
- Blender
- Fine-mesh Sieve (optional)
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
Strawberry Syrup: (yield = about ½ cup or enough for 2 cocktails)
- ½ Pint Strawberries - hulled and sliced (about 6 large or 12 medium berries)
- 2-4 TBS Agave or Honey - or more to taste (SEE NOTES)
- 1 ounce Fresh Lime Juice
Per Cocktail:
- 3 Basil Leaves
- 2 ounces Strawberry Syrup (1/4 cup) (SEE ABOVE)
- 2 ounces Vodka - or more or less to taste
- 2 ounces Lemon-Lime Soda or Club Soda - chilled, or more to taste
Optional Garnishes: Lime Wedges, Sliced Strawberries, Basil Leaves, Sugar for Rim
Instructions
- Make the strawberry syrup: Combine the strawberries, agave and lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Optional: Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds.
- Muddle the basil: In a cocktail glass, gently muddle basil leaves. Fill the glass with ice.
- Prepare the cocktail (SEE NOTES): In a cocktail shaker, pour in ¼ cup of the strawberry syrup. Add in the vodka. Fill the shaker half of way to the top with ice. Shake for about 10 seconds, or until the shaker begins to frost and is cool to the touch.
- Add soda & pour cocktail: Add the soda to the shaker. Strain the cocktail into the prepared cocktail glass.
- Serve: Garnish the glasses with strawberries, more basil leaves and lime wedges if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Strawberry Syrup: The strawberry syrup will yield enough for TWO cocktails. The recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. The syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Basil: If you want a more prominent basil flavor, add a large basil leaf to the blender with the strawberries when making the syrup.
- Sweetener: The amount of sweetener needed will depend on the ripeness of your strawberries and personal preference. Taste your strawberries, if they are sweet, start with only 2 tablespoons of agave. If your strawberries are bland, start with 3-4 tablespoons. Blend the syrup and then taste it. If the syrup is not sweet enough, add more agave (or honey), one tablespoon at a time, until desired sweetness is achieved. Remember, you can always add more sweetener, but you can't take it out once it is added!
- Garnish: While not required, I highly recommend garnishing your cocktail glasses with a sugar rim! It enhances the sweetness of the cocktail! Just make sure you coat the rim in sugar BEFORE you muddle the basil leaves!
- To rim cocktail with a sugar, wet the rim with lime juice. Dip or roll the rim in sparkling or coarse sugar. Allow the rim to dry.
- Mocktail: Use extra strawberry syrup and lemon-lime soda to replace the vodka!
- Soda: I use regular sprite or 7 up in my cocktails. However you can use any lemon-lime flavored soda you love! Both diet and regular sodas work well!
Nutrition
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You sure nailed the flavor combo on this! I bet there will be lots of happy people this Summer with this! I need to make it a mocktail!
What a gorgeous cocktail, Cheyanne! Since Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, these beauties with tequila swapped in sounds perfect!
A deliciously refreshing cocktail that I must add to our menu this summer Chey! Can’t wait to get loads of fresh strawberries this summer at the Jersey shore. Pinned! Cheers!
I love your suggestion to swap in tequila. As much as I like vodka, tequila has my heart. This looks SOOOO GOOD, Chey! I have to try it soon!
just love the combination of basil , vodka and strawberry
I know it seems like the holiday weekend just ended, but I could reeeeally use one of these right about now! Looks SO good!
Basil and Strawberries are in season right now in my neck of the woods, so this sounds like a perfect drink today. Also, good thing vodka is always in season
SO true!!! Thank you so much for the kind comment and stopping by!
This drink looks so amazing and that color! I have a thing for colorful food and drink lately! This looks so refreshing and the perfect weekend companion! Bottoms up! BTW – love the new look of the blog, the header design and font look great! The tag line sums your site up perfectly! Take care.
Yummm the combo of strawberries and basil sounds so delicious right now. I love combining herbs and fruit! Peaches and basil is a yummy combo too . I hope you had a great memorial weekend!
you nailed it as always. mojitos have a bad history with me, but you run a strong temptation game!
oops, meant to write vodka!
oh wow that looks so refreshing! I want!!
Hot dayamn – Cheyanne – this drink is GORGEOUS!!!! Wow! And – it’s not just a stunner to look at – with that combo of strawberry and basil and 7UP – it’s gotta be one tasty boozy treat!
By the way – I think I know your secret – but am not sure if it’s what am thinking – if it happens to be…I cannot wait to hear more – and btw I happene to LOVE this ” the saying, ‘when you make plans, God laughs’? ” And you bet – he’s laughed at me quite a few times so now I just follow where he leads! 🙂 even when that means a trip across the pond this year… I’ll wait to go into details as like you know ‘when you make plans, God laughs’
Happy Wednesday to ya xoxo
You make me curious! I love secrets or better said finding out what the secrets are. What a beautiful looking drink, a perfect start in the summer!
I SWEAR I already posted on this. Do you ever do that!? Anyway. This is fantastic. I actually have a little cup full of fresh basil leaves on my counter that are just begging to be thrown into this. Oh, and 7UP in the fridge. Meant to be. Hope you had a great long weekend!
This combination looks really good!
You’re so right — spring was but a mere blip on the radar because winter lasted so long! Allergy season was shorter because of the rain and for that I’m so thankful. 🙂 . This cocktail is something I’d enjoy all summer long — it looks so refreshing and I’m loving that color!
I’m looking forward to the big secret, Cheyanne – don’t know what it is but I hope it brings you much joy! This summer is crazy busy at work – multiple projects going on – so will be trying to enjoy the summer when I can. I think I will need about 50 of these cocktails to get through it all. Gorgeous pictures – cheers!
I love basil in my cocktails and love that you paired them with strawberries. These look perfect to bring over to a BBQ tomorrow in a nice big pitcher!!! Done and done 🙂
Four days?? How could that be?? GURL, felt like it was just yesterday that you were announcing your favorite season had arrived: Spring. And goodness, I feel like spring never even happened. It’s been nonstop snowing, then raining for months! Hopefully the unofficial start of summer means better weather? 🙂 And, obviously, another one of your amazing cocktails is TOTALLY gonna make everything better. 🙂 Thinking all the good thoughts for your plans and totally hoping you have plans for at least 10 beach vacays (with at least 4 strawberry basil vodka cocktails in hand). 😉 2 for me, 2 for you! xoxo
Loving this perfectly seasonal cocktail. Tasty and beautiful! Have a wonderful long weekend. Cheers 🙂
You have some really beautiful cocktail creations here, Cheyanne. I love the comb of strawberry and basil..refreshing!
I’ve had zero plans for summer until now. My new plans include drinking, oh, maybe 12 dozen of these gorgeous cocktails. I mean, strawberries and basil? It’s summer in a glass! This looks sooooo unbelievably delicious. (I feel like a broken record but ALL of your posts look unbelievably delicious!) Have a marvelous long weekend, girl!
I’ve been gone and I miss you. I had to get that out of the way first. Now let’s get to this delicious looking cocktail. Yes Yes and Yes. This drink is perfect for summer and perfect for Memorial Day weekend, wait… did you plan that?? Of course, you did. I can never resist a sugared rim 🙂
Hmmmm. Big plans? Secrets. I’m intrigued. Last time when you had this kind of BIG PLANS, you guys ended up having a house in a different place. Well, probably changing the place would be beneficial cause for those 2 years you’ve been sending the food to Canada, I haven’t received any parcel:) But if you ain’t moving, well please continue shipping food to me. I haven’t lost my hope yet. And what a delicious refreshing cocktail! Strawberry and basil make the perfect combo.
So I don’t drink a lot, but when I do, I like it to be a special drink. THIS drink, my friend, is SO DANG SPECIAL. Strawberry and basil are delish together! And you have me waiting on the edge of my seat to hear more about your big news! I love big news!!! So far as summer plans go, I’m off to Portland, Maine this weekend for MDW and Washington D.C. the weekend after that. I think I’ll go the beach a few times since it’s oh, 20 minutes from where I work. 🙂 hooray for summer & cheers, lady!
YUM! Strawberry basil is a favorite of mine…then again, anything with basil is a favorite of mine! I love that I saw your Insta Story! Woohoooo! Will keep fingers crossed that everything goes as planned! We have a pretty low key summer planned…time in Placid, of course, and a couple trips planned to Boston. Looking forward to the sunshine coming out and staying out!! Have a great weekend, milady! XO
Summer, beach, and cocktails are the best friends. No wonder you are so thrilled about your cocktail goals. This strawberry basil vodka cocktail looks so pretty and refreshingly delish, Cheyanne. Can’t wait to see your pictures.
I do know your dirty little secret and am so excited for you! I’m also excited that you are planning a beach vacation because I know how much you love the beach! We have one planned for July and I can’t wait. I think we should mix up some of these strawberry basil cocktails to celebrate all things wonderful! XOXO
This cocktail looks delicious. I love the strawberry syrup and basil! Who knew basil could be used in a drink? I must try! Hope you holiday weekend is full of fun and sun….and a few of these cocktails! 🙂
Summer barbecues, relaxing, and hopefully a few weekend getaways are definitely in my plans for the summer! And I’m SO excited for your big plan! I can’t wait to see final pictures! And yay for ALL the cocktails! You seriously make the most gorgeous ones, Cheyanne! I’m loving the dreamy color of this one. And the strawberry and basil combo sounds just perfect! This is definitely what I want to sip on ALL summer long, and starting today. Pinned, of course! Hope your weekend is off to a great start!
I know why you’re so excited 😉 Cocktail goals? That’s too funny! This looks refreshing as heck, Cheyanne! We had our long weekend just last weekend and, guess what? We had a peck of snow! Crazy, huh? No matter, we still have the bbq. I guess we’ll just have to dress warm when outside grilling, lol. Enjoy your long weekend, girl! xo
Can’t wait to hear more about your secret Chey! So exciting! And you know me, I’ll definitely be adding this little libation to my summer rotation. I love the strawberry basil combo. So refreshing. I can’t wait to use local strawberries too in a few short weeks! Happy Memorial Day! Cheers!
I knew you had something going on so since we are friends on Facebook, I just had to go track down the big secret… SO exciting! Can’t wait to hear more when you are ready to share 🙂
As for now, I’ll be making this ALL weekend long! It looks so killer refreshing! I have a huge stash of strawberries in my fridge currently and my little basil garden plant has decided to stick around so I am seriously ready for this – and of course, ready to sip on all the yummy cocktails all weekend long! Pinned!
Cheers my friend and have a fabulous holiday weekend! XO
Oh I could down a fair few of these in one sitting. Basil and strawberry is such a good combination and perfect for summer! Although I can’t help feeling like you’re teasing me because I am heading into winter 🙂 Pinning for when the warmer weather hits. Thanks for sharing x