Gin Basil Smash
Gin Basil Smash
The Gin Basil Smash is literally the modern classic that started the herb revolution. Perhaps the best example of a herbal cocktail remains the Gin Basil Smash. It is subtle and nuanced, which is exactly what a herb-inspired cocktail is supposed to be.
Created by German bartender Jörg Meyer in 2008, the Gin Basil Smash sparked the entire fresh herb movement in cocktails. Nearly two decades later, it remains one of the most-ordered contemporary gin drinks globally and appears on cocktail menus from London to Tokyo. This is the drink that proved savoury herbs could be the star, not just a garnish. Basil adds a peppery, almost spicy complexity that works brilliantly with gin’s botanicals. The Gin Basil Smash is refreshing but has genuine depth, it’s the perfect example of how one fresh herb can transform a simple sour into something extraordinary.
Ingredients
- 60ml Gin
- 20ml Fresh lemon juice
- 10ml Simple syrup
- Large handful of fresh basil leaves (10-12 leaves)
Method
- Add basil leaves to your cocktail shaker. Muddle them gently—you want to bruise the leaves to release their oils, not pulverise them into green bits.
- Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
- Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. (Double straining removes the small basil fragments.)
- Garnish with a perfect basil leaf. Give it a light slap against your hand before placing it on the drink—this releases the aromatics.
