Lemon-Berry-Basil Fizz

School's out and it's time for afternoon cocktails on the porch. We love strawberry and basil together - sweet, bright, fresh from the garden flavors that get a boost from a refreshing blast of lemon. This cocktail is porch-rocker perfection in a glass, right in the height of berry season. Feel free to improvise with other fresh berries!

Lemon-Berry-Basil Fizz

(makes one drink)

2 fresh strawberries, hulled

2 basil leaves, chopped

2 ounces Acqua di Cedro (lemon-infused grappa)

3 ounces club soda

Muddle strawberries and basil in a glass with ice. Add grappa and club soda. Give a quick stir and enjoy.

Cocktail Hour: Melonshine

We're on somewhat of a moonshine kick lately, now that we're on vacation. Maybe it's because the moonshine we're using is so amazingly smooth and mixable. So here's our latest concoction, created just this afternoon while we were making Watermelon Sorbetto (recipe coming soon). It's quite yummy, and frankly, the perfect backyard barbecue beverage! Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

Melonshine

Ingredients:

2 cups watermelon, chopped finely

1 tablespoon boxwood basil leaves (regular basil will work fine)

1 cup Onyx Moonshine

Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher and set aside for an hour, stirring a couple of times to blend. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into six rocks glasses filled with ice. To serve additional drinks, simply add moonshine to pitcher, stir, sieve and pour. Drink responsibly.