The Empire of the Sun cocktail recipe

There’s something so timeless about the combination of strawberry and basil. Sweetness, savoury notes, texture, aroma – these two ingredients always bring out the best in each other. Bringing them together again alongside the Empire Strawberry & Lime is cocktail chief at Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage, Matt Stirling, who calls this drink Empire of the Sun. 

“This drink is inspired by a modern classic – the Gin Basil Smash,” Matt says. This one starts from pretty much the same basic ingredients. “Gin, basil, lime and sugar syrup are the foundations for this vibrant spin,” he says.

A quick bash-up in a cocktail strainer gets things started, releasing all that delicious basil aroma and marrying the gin to the sweet sugar syrup and fresh lime acidity. Then, “a crowning” of Empire Strawberry & Lime fruity beer, as Matt puts it, anoints this cocktail with a refreshing crispness and length.

Don’t overshake this one. The whole point here is to incorporate the flavours of each ingredient and get them into the glass ASAP. Overdo it, and the ice will begin to melt and dilute your cocktail, leaving you with a watery drink and less room for that final lick of fruity beer. Remember: hard and fast.