During one of our many trips to San Diego, our buddies Mike and Ashley introduced us to Polite Provisions, a cocktail bar in San Diego. If you enjoy expertly crafted libations by folks who take their beverages seriously without any pretense, this is the joint for you.
I have never taken a picture of a bathroom floor before…but…
One of many cheers at Polite Provisions.
Their often rotating menu has an expansive draft cocktail list, rotating guest bartender specials, communal drinks to share, and their spins on classic creations. They literally have something for everyone, but the best part is that everything is good. You can sample a taste of four or five different cocktails around the table and fall in love with them all.
But, of course there is always that one drink that sticks with you. The beverage you order another round of and it just keeps getting better with every sip. It’s that libation that even after you’ve left the establishment, you’re still thinking about it. Even on the plane home. You wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats thinking about it.
Okay, we’re pushing reality a bit with that last one. If you’re waking up in cold sweats thinking about alcohol, maybe go get some help…
Anyway, what is this magical lasting drink that we couldn’t shake? (Well, we will technically be shaking it…)
The Summer Palace Cocktail.
It was a refreshing blend of gin, coconut milk, Thai basil and lime that made the perfect summer beverage.
So, of course we immediately had to recreate it at home.
And you should, too, because it’s really easy. Too easy. And it’s really delicious. Too delicious. As the ingredients suggest, it pairs well with most Asian cuisine, but it also pairs perfectly with a sunny day and a deck.
Cheers to the last days of summer!
SUMMER PALACE COCKTAIL RECIPE
- 3 oz Coconut Milk
- 1 oz Gin (we like Bombay Sapphire)
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
- 5–7 Thai Basil Leaves
- Juice from half a lime
- In a cocktail shaker, add the Thai basil leaves and lime juice. Muddle the leaves to release their herbaceous oils.
- Add the coconut milk, gin, and simple syrup, fill with ice, and shake vigorously.
- Strain into your favorite cocktail glass (over a gigantic ice cube if you have it).
- Sit on deck and enjoy.
