- 60 ml2 ozgin
- 20 ml0.75 ozlemon juice
- 20 ml0.75 ozsugar syrup
- 15 leavesbasil leaves
Garnish: basil sprig
- Method
- Shaken
- Strength
- ~18% ABV
- Difficulty
- ●●●
Method
- Muddle the basil leaves well in the bottom of a shaker.
- Add gin, lemon juice, syrup and ice.
- Shake hard.
- Double strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice and garnish with a basil sprig.
The story
A German bartender built this in the early 2000s almost by accident, muddling leftover basil into a gin sour at the end of a shift, and it spread across European menus within a few years. It is one of the fastest a modern cocktail has gone from a one-off to a modern classic.
Flavour
Quick answers
Gin Basil Smash questions
How do you make a Gin Basil Smash?
Muddle the basil leaves well in the bottom of a shaker. Add gin, lemon juice, syrup and ice. Shake hard. Double strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice and garnish with a basil sprig. You need 60 ml (2 oz) gin, 20 ml (0.75 oz) lemon juice, 20 ml (0.75 oz) sugar syrup and 15 leaves basil leaves.
What's in a Gin Basil Smash?
Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and basil leaves, garnished with basil sprig.
Is a Gin Basil Smash shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Shaking chills, dilutes and aerates the citrus or cream.
What glass is a Gin Basil Smash served in?
A rocks, over crushed ice.
How strong is a Gin Basil Smash?
About 18% ABV once it is diluted, about as strong as a glass of fortified wine.
Barback: 100 Cocktails
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