Gin Basil Smash
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 23% ABV ∙
The Gin Basil Smash is a modern gin sour built on muddled fresh basil, lemon juice, and sugar, shaken hard and double-strained for a vivid green pour. Bright and aromatic, with peppery-sweet basil leading, tart lemon behind it, and a clean juniper finish — an all-day sipper for warm afternoons.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Lightly muddle Fresh basil leaves 12 pcs in a shaker
- Add London dry gin 60 mlLemon juice 20 ml and Cane syrup 10 ml with ice
- Shake all ingredients with ice
- Fine strain into the chilled glass with ice
- Garnish with a basil sprig
Tips
- Add the basil to the tin and shake it with the liquid — no need to muddle first; hard shaking bruises the leaves enough to release the oils.
- Double-strain through a fine mesh to catch shredded basil and keep the drink bright green rather than flecked.
- Shake hard for about 12 seconds with plenty of ice; the extra dilution and chill balance the gin and lemon.
- Use young, fresh Genovese basil leaves — older, woody stems turn the drink grassy and slightly bitter.
History
The Gin Basil Smash was created in 2008 by German bartender Jörg Meyer at his bar, Le Lion, in Hamburg, Germany. Meyer built it as a variation on the Whiskey Smash, swapping the base spirit and leaning on Genovese basil for its aromatic punch. He first sold the drink under the name Gin Pesto before settling on its current name. The cocktail spread quickly among bartenders and became a modern classic; the International Bartenders Association later adopted it as an official cocktail. As drinks writer Robert Simonson recounted for Punch in 2021, the smash's fast rise made it one of the defining gin cocktails of its era.
FAQ
What is a Gin Basil Smash?
A Gin Basil Smash is a modern gin sour made with London dry gin, fresh basil, lemon juice, and a little sugar syrup. It belongs to the smash family — cocktails built on muddled or shaken fruit or herbs — and pours a bright green.
What goes in a Gin Basil Smash and how do you make it?
It takes London dry gin, a dozen fresh basil leaves, lemon juice, and cane syrup. Add everything to a shaker with ice, shake hard, then double-strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice and garnish with a basil sprig.
Is a Gin Basil Smash shaken or stirred?
Shaken. All the ingredients, including the basil, go into the shaker with ice and are shaken hard, then double-strained. Shaking chills the drink and beats the basil leaves enough to release their aromatic oils.
What kind of gin is best for a Gin Basil Smash?
A crisp London dry gin works best, letting the basil and lemon lead while juniper anchors the finish. Avoid heavily flavored contemporary gins that can clash with the herb; a clean, classic style keeps the drink balanced.
What is the difference between a Gin Basil Smash and a Gimlet?
A Gimlet is just gin and lime cordial or fresh lime and sugar, stirred or shaken simple and clear. A Gin Basil Smash adds muddled fresh basil and uses lemon, making it herbal, aromatic, and bright green rather than clean and citrusy.
What glass is a Gin Basil Smash served in?
An old-fashioned glass over ice, garnished with a basil sprig. The drink was originally served straight up in a cocktail glass, but the rocks presentation is now common and is how this recipe serves it.
