Gin Basil Smash recipe
Germany's gift to modern cocktails — gin meets fresh basil in a vibrant green sour.
Method: Muddle & Shake ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Daiquiri Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.75 oz Simple Syrup
- 8-10 Fresh Basil Leaves
How to make a Gin Basil Smash
- Muddle basil leaves with simple syrup in a shaker — press firmly to release the oils.
- Add gin and fresh lemon juice.
- Add ice and shake hard for 12-15 seconds.
- Double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a fresh basil sprig — slap it first to release the aroma.
Garnish
Fresh basil sprig.
Pro tip
Double straining is essential here — nobody wants to drink tiny basil bits through a straw. Use a fine mesh strainer over your Hawthorne strainer. And don't over-muddle — you want the aromatic oils, not the bitter chlorophyll from shredded leaves.
History of the Gin Basil Smash
Created by Jörg Meyer at Le Lion bar in Hamburg, Germany in 2008. It became an instant modern classic, spreading to cocktail bars worldwide within months. Meyer was inspired by the Italian combination of basil and lemon in cooking, and simply applied it to gin. Sometimes the best cocktails are the most obvious ideas nobody thought of.
Flavour profile
Herbal, Citrus, Fresh, Botanical
Variations
- Thai Basil Smash — Use Thai basil for anise-like spiciness
- Vodka Basil Smash — Replace gin with vodka for a cleaner canvas
- Basil Gimlet — Skip the lemon, use lime juice instead
Practise making the Gin Basil Smash in the free Virtual Bar game.