Fresh basil gives this gin smash its green, peppery aroma. Lime keeps it sharp, and simple syrup rounds out the citrus. Measure the three liquids before shaking so you can adjust the next glass with a clear starting point.
This lime version uses gin, citrus, sugar syrup and basil. Lightly pressing the leaves and serving over fresh ice are preparation choices for this build.
What You Will Need
- 10 fresh sweet basil leaves
- 2 oz (60 ml) gin
- 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz (22.5 ml) simple syrup
- Ice
- Optional garnish: one fresh basil leaf and a lime wheel
Equipment: a shaker, jigger, muddler, shaker strainer, fine sieve, and rocks glass. If you don’t have a muddler, the rounded end of a clean wooden spoon can press the leaves.
How to Make It
- Put the basil and simple syrup in the shaker. Press the leaves lightly.
- Add gin, lime juice, and ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 12 seconds.
- Pour through the shaker strainer and a fine sieve into a rocks glass over fresh ice. The second strainer catches small leaf pieces.
- Add the optional basil leaf and lime wheel, then serve.
Measure one drink or four
| For | 1 drink | 4 drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Gin | 2 oz | 8 oz |
| Lime juice | 3/4 oz | 3 oz |
| Syrup | 3/4 oz | 3 oz |
| Basil | 10 leaves | 40 leaves |
For four drinks, measure the liquid base into a covered container and chill it while you set up. Keep the basil separate until you’re ready to shake. Divide the liquid base into four equal portions and shake each with 10 leaves and fresh ice; a small shaker needs room for the ice to move.
Fix the texture and balance
Leaf pieces in the glass: use the fine sieve as well as the shaker strainer. Tearing the leaves more finely won’t solve the straining problem.
Too tart: check the lime and syrup measurements first. Syrup strength varies, so add a little more to the next drink if needed. Honey syrup changes the flavor and isn’t a guaranteed equal-strength substitute.
Barely tastes of basil: use fresh, fragrant leaves. Thai basil will bring a more anise-like note than sweet basil, so expect a different drink.
Want a lemon version? Replace the lime with the same volume of fresh lemon juice. For a longer version, add chilled soda water after straining, keeping it out of the shaker.
Serve a separate alcohol-free choice
The strawberry basil smash is a fruit-based alternative with its own ingredients and method. Serve it as its own recipe rather than simply leaving gin out of this sour. Use the mocktail pantry guide to check the mixers you already have.
Basil is used here for its green, peppery flavor.
