This is usually the spot where I share some useful smart tip on how to make your school experience great, but this one’s for you parents. With school just started or right around the corner, can we say, you made it! Congratulate yourselves for surviving the endless summer of, “Mom, I’m bored,” or “are we there yet?” or “what are we going to do today?”

Whether you’re eeking out the final dog days of summer, or celebrating the welcome relief of getting your kids out of the house and back-to-school, this cocktail will cheer you up and cool you down. While I love a tall cool gin and tonic with a double squeeze of lime on hot summer nights, I adore this Basil Gingy Gimlet which merges the spice of the gin and ginger with the tang of fresh lime and the fresh clean scent of just-picked basil leaves. This one’s a keeper. C’mon. You earned it! Clink.

The GoMama Basil Gingy Gimlet
(serves one)

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the following:
the juice of half a lime
3 fresh basil leaves, torn into little pieces

Fill shaker half-way with ice and add:
1+ oz good gin
1/2 oz ginger liqueur such as Canton’s

Shake, strain into martini glass, and sip!

Now that’s a smart cocktail.
Cheers.