Gin Basil Smash: Modern Cocktail Classic
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Ideal for summer, the refreshing Gin Basil Smash is simultaneously sweet, sour and herbaceous. The modern cocktail classic is delightfully easy to craft and even easier to sip.
The Gin Basil Smash is a modern cocktail that’s crafted with gin, basil, lemon juice and simple syrup. This sweet and sour cocktail is super refreshing any time of the year but especially when the weather heats up. Yes, this is a summer cocktail that will cool you down from the inside out. It’s also a cocktail that prominently features basil.
While adding basil to dishes like pasta and salads is typical, the versaitle herb plays differently in the Gin Basil Smash. It’s the ingredient that differentiates this smash from all other smashes in a good way.
History of the Gin Basil Smash
Although most people associate gin with England and basil with Italy, the Gin Basil Smash wasn’t invented in either of those countries. Instead, its roots are in in Germany.
Jörg Meyer, a bartender and owner of Le Lion in Hamburg, first smashed basil into cocktails in 2008. Meyer, who apparently got his inspiration after sipping Whiskey Smashes in NYC, called his creation the Gin Pesto. Today, the better-named Gin Basil Smash is popular around the world.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients to craft a Gin Basil Smash at home:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
How to Craft a Gin Basil Smash Cocktail
After you gather the necessary bar tools and ingredients, you’re mere minutes from sipping a refreshing Gin Basil Smash.
The first step is to muddle basil leaves in a cocktail shaker. While most Gin Basil Smash recipes call for 8, 10 or 12 basil leaves, we use 15 leaves in this recipe and you should do the same. The extra leaves ramp up the drink’s herbaceousness without overpowering its sweet and sour flavors.
Pro Tip
Use the end of a bar spoon if you don’t have a muddler on hand.
Measure the gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup. We use a Japanese jigger to achieve accurate measurements while minimizing spillage.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
Pour the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into the shaker.
Add a handful of ice and shake until the ingredientes are combined and chilled – approximately 20 seconds.
Fill a lowball glass half way with ice cubes and strain the shaken cocktail into the glass.
Pro Tip
Use a fine mesh strainer if you don’t want basil bits and lemon pulp floating in your Gin Basil Smash.
Garnish with a basil sprig or two.
The crafted Gin Basil Smash will smell and taste like summer regardless of the season. Cheers!
Variations
The Gin Basil Smash is popular for good reasons – it looks, smells and tastes great. However, you may want to tweak the recipe to make the cocktail your own. If so, we recommend starting with the following variations:
Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.
Gin Basil Smash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 15 basil leaves (fresh)
- 1 ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1 basil sprig (garnish)
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Muddle the basil leaves inside a cocktail shaker.
- Add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and a handfull of ice cubes.
- Shake until the ingredients are combined and chilled – approiximately 20 seconds.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a lowball glass that's half filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with a basil sprig.
Nutrition
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
The Gin Basil Smash is an herbaceous cocktail that’s crafted with gin, basil, lemon juice and simple syrup.
The Gin Basil Smash cocktail was invented in Hamburg, Germany.
Gin, Fresh Basil, Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup and Ice Cubes
The Gin Basil Smash is shaken.
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