Spirits Vodka Sparkling Yuzu Gimlets Be the first to rate & review! Top Chef winner Mei Lin makes her Asian-style gimlet in a large pitcher for easy entertaining. Slideshow: More Vodka Cocktail Recipes By Mei Lin Mei Lin Instagram Mei Lin is a Chinese-American chef, television personality, and Top Chef season 12 winner based in Los Angeles. She opened Nightshade in Los Angeles' Arts District in 2019, when it landed among Food & Wine's Best New Restaurants and the shrimp toast was deemed Dish of the Year. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 1, 2015 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © Christina Holmes Total Time: 15 mins Yield: 8 drinks Ingredients 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons hot water 2 cups lightly packed mint leaves, plus small sprigs for garnish 1 1/2 cups lightly packed basil leaves, plus small sprigs for garnish 1 cup thinly sliced English cucumber, plus 8 spears for garnish 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons yuzu juice 2 cups chilled vodka 2 1/4 cups chilled sparkling water Ice Directions In a small bowl, whisk the sugar with the hot water until dissolved. In a pitcher, muddle the mint and basil leaves with the sliced cucumber and the sugar syrup. Stir in the yuzu juice, vodka and sparkling water. Serve in ice-filled collins glasses garnished with small sprigs of mint and basil and a cucumber spear. Rate it Print