Because What is a Royal Birth Without a Royal Baby Cocktail?

I’ve let my cocktail recipe column languish for way too long — and what better reason to re-launch it than the birth of PRINCE GEORGE?!  (And I say that without an ounce of sarcasm.  For once.  I know it’s cooler to act indifferent and Tweet jokes like, “Rich people have babies every day.  Where is THEIR parade?!” but the fact is, I have an unabashed crush on Kate and William.  Her hair — so shiny!  His — quickly receding, but he makes endearing jokes about it!  Prince George — so princely and snuggly!)  I love me some young, relatively down-to-earth royals and we all know I love me some end-of-the week libations, so it only makes sense I would celebrate tonight with a ROYAL BABY COCKTAIL!

Of course, I am not the only one who thought a royal baby cocktail was in order.  But all of the recipes I scanned suggested rather bitter liqueurs — which seems more appropriate for, say, the Queen on the anniversary of Harry’s Vegas photos leaking — and, given Kate, William and George have injected a breath of fresh air into that otherwise stodgy palace, I thought a fresh and sweet cocktail would be a better choice.  So I present to you…

Strawberry Basil Margarita (hereafter known as the PRINCE GEORGE-ARITA)

What you’ll need to scoop up:

• 1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate
• About 10 strawberries
• 8 basil leaves
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups tequila (gold or silver… we don’t discriminate)
• A jewel-encrusted crown.  A velvet cape also recommended.

How to make the liquid goodness:

• Empty the limeade concentrate into a pitcher. Add 2 1/2 cans of water and 1 1/2 (18 ounces, or 2 1/4 cups) cans of tequila.
• Cut the strawberries and add to the pitcher. Crumple the basil a little in your hands (this will help the basil flavor release into the drink; also, it’s just fun) and add it to the pitcher, too. Place the pitcher, covered, for at least four hours.
• And when you start to moan, “FOUR hours?  That is WAY too long to wait!” just remember:  Kate endured NATURAL childbirth for more than 12 hours.  And all she got was a baby at the end of it, while you will be rewarded with DELICIOUS ALCOHOL!
• When you remove the pitcher from the fridge, your margaritas should be a lovely pale pink color — just like the color of George’s chubby cheeks.  (Too creepy?  Yeah, agreed, strike that.)

Before you indulge, don your crown and/or velvet robe, sit down on your throne (wherever that may be… we don’t judge around here) and…

…Toast to Prince George Alexander Louis!  I plan to do so in my best British accent, which usually makes me sound Jamaican.

Ya, mahn!