Mother’s Day brunch and cocktails go hand-in-hand, and the only thing better than a delicious drink with mom is one that’s made with a gift from you. Fresh herbs are the gift that keep on giving, doubling as a pop of greenery and homegrown entertaining staple. Not to mention, they’re a living reminder of how much you appreciate everything she does.

Start your Mother’s Day gift by picking up a selection of fresh herbs at your local garden center or grocery store. Herbs such as sage, mint, rosemary and basil can be planted in small terra cotta pots and will add an earthy aroma to your mom’s kitchen windowsill, backyard garden or balcony.

Pair your herbs with one or more of the delicious cocktail recipes below, and don’t forget to taste test with mom!

Sage & Grapefruit Mimosa

Sage is a hearty herb that brings a warm flavor to a variety of drinks and dishes. Sage grows best in full-light, so choose a sunny window. Plant your sage in well-drained soil and only water when the surface of the soil feels dry. Pinch off one leaf at a time or cut an entire stem if you’re making more than one mimosa.    

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. freshly-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice, strained
• 3 oz. elderflower liqueur
• 4 fresh sage leaves
• 8 oz. Prosecco or sparkling white wine
• Grapefruit slice or twist, for garnish
• 2 champagne flutes

Make it for 2: Add grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur and one of the sage leaves to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a champagne flute filled with ice. Top with Prosecco and garnish with the remaining sage leaf and grapefruit slice or twist. Cheers!

Make it a mocktail: Skip the liqueur and prosecco and substitute sparkling white grape juice.

Mint Mojito

Known for its refreshing taste, mint is the perfect herb for tropical cocktails. Plant and place your mint in an area of your kitchen with a generous amount of sunlight, but be sure to keep it away from things that might dry it out such as a heater or vent. Cut the flower tops when the plant starts to bloom to make sure it is directing its energy to growing fresh leaves. Cut leaves individually when you’re ready to enjoy, and use them immediately for the best flavor!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. freshly-squeezed lime juice
• 2 tsp. superfine sugar
• 6 mint leaves
• 4 oz. white rum
• Club soda or seltzer water
• 2 Collins glasses

Make it for 2: In a Collins glass, muddle lime juice with one teaspoon of superfine sugar. Add the mint leaves, muddling them against the side of the glass. Fill the Collins glass 2/3 with crushed ice and pour in the rum. Throw in the squeezed-out lime shell and top it off with club soda or seltzer. Now, sit back and relax. This is a classic you have to taste!

Make it a mocktail: Substitute extra club soda or ginger ale for a sweeter option for the rum.

Rosemary Berry-Herb Sangria

Rosemary’s piney aroma smells great and adds a full-bodied taste to your favorite drinks. Place your rosemary in a drainable pot in a nook of your kitchen with full-sun! Cut off only the top two to three inches of each sprig to use in recipes. This will keep your plant growing strong and add earthy goodness to your recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle Shiraz or Malbec
• 1/2 c. mixed berry juice
• 1/2 c. simple syrup
• 1 c. stemmed and quartered strawberries
• 1 c. blackberries
• 2 large rosemary sprigs
• 2 cups of chilled plain or raspberry seltzer water
• Glass pitcher and wine glasses

Make it for 6: Pour wine into a glass pitcher and stir in the mixed berry juice and simple syrup. Add strawberries, blackberries and the leaves from 2 large rosemary sprigs. Top it off with ice and chilled plain or raspberry seltzer before serving. Then, raise a glass to mom!

Make it a mocktail: Substitute a sparkling grape juice of your choice for wine.

Strawberry Basil Spritzer

Nothing beats the fresh flavor of basil, with a hint of pepper. Basil grows quickly in the right conditions, so pinching back shorter stems will encourage more full-bodied growth! Snip your basil to harvest leaves as soon as the plant unfolds at least four sets of leaves.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. Sauvignon Blanc
• 8 medium strawberries (small diced)
• 6 oz. soda water
• 2 tsp. basil (chopped)
• Juice from a freshly-squeezed lime
• Sliced strawberries and basil leaves to garnish
• 2 wine glasses

Make it for 2: Dice strawberries and combine with chopped basil to make a relish. Add the lime juice and let sit for 5 minutes. Fill your wine glass with ice and the strawberry basil relish. Top with sauvignon blanc and soda water. Garnish with sliced strawberries and basil leaves. Summer spritzer sipping awaits!

Make it a mocktail: Leave out the Sauvignon Blanc and add extra soda water.

Click here to download printable herb care cards for the finishing touch. Cheers to you, your mom and wishes for a new herb garden that will inspire refreshing drinks and dishes all summer long!