Vodka Basil Smash recipe

Name: Vodka Basil Smash
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 2 oz Vodka; 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice; 0.75 oz Simple Syrup; 8-10 Fresh Basil Leaves

A clean basil-and-lemon sour that lets fresh herbs lead over a neutral vodka base.

Method: Muddle & Shake · Glass: Rocks glass · Time: 3 min · Difficulty: Intermediate · Family: The Daiquiri Family

Ingredients

2 oz Vodka
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Simple Syrup
8-10 Fresh Basil Leaves

How to make a Vodka Basil Smash

Muddle basil gently with syrup.
Add vodka, lemon and ice.
Shake hard until cold.
Double strain over fresh ice.

Garnish

Basil sprig and lemon wheel.

Pro tip

With vodka, fresh basil quality matters even more because there is no botanical gin character to support it.

History of the Vodka Basil Smash

Vodka Basil Smash is a neutral-spirit adaptation of Jörg Meyer's modern gin-and-basil classic.

Flavour profile

Basil, Citrus, Clean, Fresh

Variations

Gin Basil Smash — Return to gin, lemon and fresh basil.
Thai Basil Smash — Use Thai basil for a peppery, anise-like lift.
Basil Gimlet — Use lime rather than lemon for a Gimlet-style sour.

Practise making the Vodka Basil Smash in the free Virtual Bar game.