Building the Perfect BLT – Garden & Gun

Ingredients

• Pan spray
• 6 slices thick-cut hickory-smoked bacon
• 8 oz. mayonnaise (preferably Duke’s)
• 1 cup loosely packed basil, chopped
• ¼ tsp. fresh-cracked pepper (preferably Tellicherry)
• 4 slices sturdy sourdough, Pullman, or other bakery-quality bread
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp. pickle juice
• Salt and pepper
• 12 leaves Little Gem lettuce
• 1 or 2 heirloom tomatoes to yield 4 thick slices