Even though I was raised on Sichuan food and crave it much like others crave chocolate, for the longest time I was under the impression that I hated spicy cocktails. But a string of really tasty cocktails at bars recently I have come to realize that it isn’t the heat that I don’t like, it is more the inability of most of these cocktails to find the right balance. So often the chili is such an in-your-face flavor that all other ingredients besides the alcohol is muted, and as a result the drink comes across as very one note. There is not nothing worse than drinking a flat, uninspired cocktail.

I am a big big fan of the art of cocktail making and it’s an endlessly fascinating topic for me. When I am having a good cocktail, I am always looking for subtle nuanced flavors. My favorite cocktails never scream of this ingredient or that ingredient, rather they are a beautiful melding of flavors that only reveal themselves through each leisurely sip. That is what you have here with my take on the Brazilian national drink, Caipirinha. In my recipe I am infusing the cachaça, a sugarcane based spirit, with lemongrass, Thai basil, and serrano chili. An infusion is a great way to put your own stamp on a drink. It is so easy to mix and match flavors and all that is required is a little planning and time. Here the lemongrass, that oh so necessary herb used throughout South Asia, adds a subtle citrus note to the drink. The Thai basil, a very natural accompaniment to the lemongrass, brings its complex anise and licorice-like flavors. And finally, for the kick I am using serrano chilies here. I like the subtle vegetal notes that serranos always bring to a dish and will pretty much always use it over a jalapeño. The resulting flavors are understated and yet they feel as if through time, they have become one with the cachaça. To make the actual cocktail, I have done very little to change the original. After all, It is much beloved for a reason. The only little addition is some cucumber for an extra bit of cooling lightness, making this already easy to drink cocktail far too easy to drink lots of.

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makes 5 drinks