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Gin Basil Smash
A muddled gin sour with fresh basil, lemon, and sugar for a bright herbal profile.
Base spirit
Gin
Style
Sour
Glassware
Rocks glass
Technique
Shake
The Gin Basil Smash muddles fresh basil into a gin-lemon-sugar sour. Basil oils perfume the drink while lemon keeps it sharp and refreshing. Shaken and served over ice, it became a defining modern craft highball-adjacent sour. Fresh basil is non-negotiable.
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Ingredients
Servings
- • 2 oz gin
- • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- • 0.75 oz simple syrup
- • 10-12 fresh basil leaves
Did you know?
“Joerg Meyer created the Gin Basil Smash at Hamburg’s Le Lion, and it quickly became an international modern classic.”
Source:Le Lion / Joerg Meyer cocktail histories
Bartender's Note
Muddle basil gently to release oils without shredding into bitterness. Use plenty of fresh leaves.
Missing a bottle? See smart swaps in Learn.
How to make the Gin Basil Smash
- 1Gently basil with syrup in a shaker
- 2Add gin and lemon; shake with ice
- 3 into a rocks glass over ice
- 4Garnish with a basil sprig
