Skip to main content
Epicurious
Cookbooks

Gin Basil Smash

By Jöerg Meyer, André Darlington, and Tenaya Darlington

4.3

(12)

Gin cocktail with basil and lemon in three glass tumblers with muddler and lemon wedges.
Photo by Jason Varney

A perfect accent for an outdoor supper during tomato season. In winter, it revives the palate as an aperitif. This drink demonstrates so ably how fresh ingredients can be incorporated into everyday drinking cocktails. Head to your kitchen garden or snag a big bunch of basil at the farmers market, and you’re mere steps from a living drink that will make your head dizzy. This drink smashes basil, but you can smash anything—tarragon, thyme, cilantro, or makrut lime leaves. Let this drink inspire you. We like to host a garden party with an assortment of fresh herbs and gins, and let friends muddle their way through an array of flavors.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

For the simple syrup:

1 cup Demerara sugar
1 cup water

For the cocktail:

2 ounces gin (such as Beefeater)
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
⅔ ounce simple syrup
Small bunch basil leaves (about 10)
Basil sprig, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Make the simple syrup:

    Step 1

    Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil. Stir until sugar dissolves, about 3 to 5 minutes, then remove the pan from the stove. Cool. Transfer the syrup to a clean bottle or jar. Cover and refrigerate.

  2. Make the cocktail:

    Step 2

    Muddle basil leaves with lemon juice and simple syrup. Add ice and gin and shake. Double-strain into a chilled cocktail glass with ice. Garnish with a basil sprig.

Image may contain: Plant, Fruit, Citrus Fruit, Food, Grapefruit, Produce, and Wristwatch
Text excerpted from THE NEW COCKTAIL HOUR © 2016 by André Darlington and Tenaya Darlington. Reproduced by permission of Running Press. All rights reserved.
TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesGinBasilHerbs & SpicesQuickEasyCookbooks

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Kimchi Bloody Mary
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.
Hugo Spritz
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Paloma Slushy
Frozen into a slushy, the classic tequila and grapefruit cocktail becomes even more refreshing.
Bicycle Bandit
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Spicy Mango Margarita
Blend frozen mango, blanco tequila, and lime juice into these cooling margaritas. A Tajín rim adds a spicy-salty kick.
Tomato Martini
Sweet, savory, and way too easy to drink.
Île Flottante
Originally called omelette à la neige (snow omelet) in reference to the fluffy snow-like appearance of the meringue, île flottante (floating island) has a lengthy history that dates back to the 17th century.