Gin Basil Smash

This Gin Basil Smash only needs 5 ingredients and a few minutes to make! It’s refreshing and herbal, highlighting the gin in the best way. You’ll love making it for cocktail hour!

about this gin basil smash

If you love gin, this gin basil smash is exactly the herbaceous cocktail that you need to make this week. It’s been our absolute favorite drink lately!

Since I grow my own basil, I tend to end up with too much basil to cook with, so of course I add it to my cocktails!

This drink is ridiculously easy to make with only five ingredients and a few minutes of your time. It’s the kind of cocktail that you whip out when you want to feel fancy, but without actually putting in much effort. Plus, it’s insanely refreshing and you can drink it whenever you have basil on hand.

The best part is that this drink really lets the gin shine. That’s why all you fellow gin loves are going to start making it on repeat. If you’ve got a nice bottle you’ve been saving, this is the best excuse to crack it open. You can use any of your favorite gins in this recipe because it is so simple and flavorful.

ingredients

basil. Fresh basil leaves are a must to make this cocktail taste so good. Make sure that the basil leaves are bright green and not wilted or browned.

gin. Use a standard gin for this cocktail, whatever your favorite brand might be! I personally am a fan of Hendricks Gin (especially their Neptunia Gin) and The Botanist is really nice as well. Empress 1908 is another one of my favorites, but it will change the color you see here since it’s purple in color! A dry gin is nice, whether it is london dry gin or a botanical gin.

lemon. Grab a fresh lemon! Fresh lemon juice is key to balancing this herbaceous cocktail. Note that you can also use lime juice!

simple syrup. We like to make our own simple syrup because it is so easy and so cheap to make! I have a whole guide on how to make simple syrup on the site so you can get all your questions answered over there. Another option is to pick it up at your local store (liquor or grocery!).

this recipe’s must-haves

To make this cocktail, you will need your favorite barware including a jigger, muddler, cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer, and your favorite cocktail glass or rocks glass.

If you want to get the look you see here, you can use these Gatsby glasses. They are so gorgeous!

here’s how to make a gin basil smash

muddle

Add basil leaves to the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the leaves. Do not overdo the muddling or the leaves will turn bitter.

Don’t have a cocktail muddler? Use the bottom of a wooden spoon!

shake

Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill the shaker halfway with ice and shake until the cocktail is chilled through.

strain

Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of soda water. Garnish and serve.

tips and tricks

buy the right gin. There is a wide range of gin brands out there! Some are drier, some are more botanical. Pick your favorite! We recommend staying away from the overly floral brands like Tanqueray in this specific cocktail recipe.

use mint instead. You can use mint instead of basil if you like!

variations

add fruit. Add some fresh berries or peach slices to the glass with the basil and muddle them as well. This will give you a fruity twist on the cocktail!

use flavored soda water. Grab your favorite flavored soda water to pair with this drink! Grapefruit, lime, lemon, and even strawberry work wonderfully with the fresh herbs.

More easy smash cocktail recipes to make: Cherry Whiskey Smash | Pineapple Jalapeno Smash | Apple Bourbon Smash | Strawberry Gin Smash

can I use vodka instead of gin?

Yes, you can easily use vodka instead of gin! You won’t get the botanical kick of gin, but the smooth taste of vodka is a wonderful pairing for the basil in the cocktail. You can even swap in bourbon instead of gin!

does basil get bitter if it gets muddled too much?

If you over-muddle the basil leaves, they can turn a little bitter. Therefore, make sure that you lightly muddle the leaves just enough to slightly bruise them. Do not muddle them so much that they break apart and get mushy.

are basil stems bitter?

Yes, thicker basil stems can be bitter! However the younger tender stems are not super bitter so if you don’t trim those basil leaves perfectly, it won’t impact the flavor of the drink. Just be sure that the thicker stems are trimmed.

Need some inspiration for cocktails? Check out my cocktail recipes page!

what to serve with a gin basil smash

You can pair this cocktail with so many different foods. Really, it goes with any recipe that uses basil or would go with basil (which is a lot!). Here are our favorite bites to serve for a party:

Easy whipped ricotta is ready in just 5 minutes and you can top it with whatever you would like!

Grilled bang bang shrimp is a lightened up version of bang bang shrimp that’s creamy and spicy.

Tangy quick pickled carrots are ready in just one hour for a crunchy vegetarian snack that works really well with charcuterie boards.

Fresh and bright burrata caprese salad is served with crusty pieces of bread, highlighting the fresh flavors of summer.

more gin cocktails to try

A simple lemon basil gin and tonic is a summery recipe with the ideal balance of tart lemon and sweet basil.

The classic gin sling has a touch of bitters to give you a whole new spin on gin for happy hour.

Use up those ripe blackberries in a blackberry gin fizz, a fruity way to highlight the floral kick of gin.

Finally, if you make this gin basil smash recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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