I love the fresh and bright flavors of this Gin Basil Smash cocktail! Made with fresh basil herbs and lemon juice, this drink is perfect for the spring and summer.
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Gin Basil Cocktail
This cocktail recipe is a variation of the whiskey smash, highlighting the woodsy flavors of gin.
I am a huge fan of both basil and lemon, and this cocktail is just delicious!
The aroma from the basil is amazing and all of the flavors are a great balance and nod to Italy.
Love lemon flavored cocktails? Try our Amalfi Martini Limoncello, one of our most popular recipes!
What Makes a Smash Cocktail?
A smash cocktail typically is made of a spirit of choice, an herb, sugar or simple syrup, and a fruit.
The ingredients are all pressed or smashed together.
Gin Basil Smash History
This cocktail is said to have been invented by Jörg Meyer at Bar le Lion in Hamburg, Germany in 2008.
I was surprised at how young this recipe is!
What is Gin Basil Smash made of?
This gin smash cocktail needs the following ingredients:
- Gin
- Fresh Basil
- Lemon Juice
- Simple Syrup
How to Make a Gin Basil Smash
First put the fresh basil and lemon juice into the cocktail shaker.
Use a muddler to press the basil which will release the flavor, oils, and the green color. You want to make sure that you really mash up that basil for optimum flavor!
Add the simple syrup and gin to the shaker and a big scoop of ice.
Put the lid on and shake until really cold, about 30 seconds.
Strain into a cocktail glass full of ice. Use a fine mesh strainer here as well if you want to avoid any small pieces of basil getting through.
Garnish with lemon wedges or circles and sprigs of fresh basil!
Gin Basil Smash Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin (1/4 cup)
- 8-12 basil leaves
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice (1 Tablespoon)
- ¼ ounce simple syrup (1/2 Tablespoon)
- ice
Instructions
- Put the basil and lemon juice in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to press and squeeze the basil to extract the oils and flavor.Make sure you press it really well to get as much flavor out of it as possible!
- Add the gin, simple syrup, and scoop of ice.
- Cover and shake the shaker until the shaker is very cold, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice. Use a fine mesh strainer if desired to avoid any small pieces of basil getting out.
- Garnish with basil and lemon wedges or circles as desired and serve.
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing gin basil smash recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Look at that color! So pretty! I have some fresh basil growing, will have to make this recipe to get it used up! Thanks for the share!
The perfect refreshing summer cocktail