Recipe and photo courtesy of the Bamboo Room, Westlake Village

This modernized Asian inspired version of a gin gimlet includes freshly squeezed lime juice and honey from local purveyors, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, London Dry Gin, and organic Thai basil.

Austin Franco, mixologist at the newly opened Bamboo Room in Westlake Village, developed this recipe with the intention of adding an extra layer to a standard that everyone knows and loves.

Since he was first introduced to the craft cocktail scene in 2012, Franco has followed a philosophy of not reinventing the wheel, but taking inspiration from cocktail standards that guests enjoy.

“Good drinks should create an emotion when they’re being served, a feast for your senses, if you will,” says Franco. “This is what I’m striving to do whenever I’m curating a new menu or creating a new cocktail.”