Juleps and smashes
Gin Basil Smash
Made with classic simple syrup · Jörg Meyer, Le Lion, Hamburg, 2008
- rocks
- cubes
- shake
Gin Basil Smash
- 2 oz60 ml gin
- ¾ oz22 ml fresh lemon juice
- ¾ oz22 ml simple syrup
- 1010 large fresh basil leaves (a generous handful)
- Muddle the basil firmly with the lemon juice in a shaker. You want the green color.
- Add the gin, syrup and ice, and shake hard.
- Double-strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a basil sprig.
Garnish: basil sprig
The syrup
In this recipe
Classic Simple Syrup¾ oz22 ml
Simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, heated just until the sugar dissolves.
3/4 oz 1:1 simple syrup.
As printed: 22.5 ml sugar syrup plus a large handful of muddled fresh basil (about 10 leaves per IBA, about 20 in Meyer's demo).
Or use
Basil Simple Syrup¾ oz22 ml
Basil simple syrup is 1:1 sugar syrup infused with fresh sweet basil.
For a more basil-forward drink, use basil syrup instead of simple syrup and cut the fresh leaves to 4-5. Don't drop the fresh basil altogether: muddled leaves give the drink its bright green color and peppery top notes, and the syrup can only add to them, not replace them.
As printed: Plain sugar syrup; the basil is all fresh and muddled.
Where it comes from
Jörg Meyer created it at Le Lion, his Hamburg bar, in 2008. He was inspired by Dale DeGroff's Whiskey Smash, which he had tried at New York's Pegu Club in 2007. It went on the menu that spring as the 'Gin Pesto' before being renamed.
Source: Gin Basil Smash: Le Lion • Bar de Paris house drink, as codified in IBA Official Cocktails (New Era) by Jörg Meyer; International Bartenders Association (2008).
Checked against: Punch: How the Gin Basil Smash Became a Modern Classic (Robert Simonson) · Punch: Gin Basil Smash · Imbibe: Gin Basil Smash · IBA: Gin Basil Smash · Kindred Cocktails: Gin Basil Smash (from Le Lion video)
Gear for this drink
Mixology & Craft 16-Piece Cocktail Shaker Set
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
Best for Measuring syrup into drinks
Cuisinart Fine Mesh Stainless Strainers (set of 3)
Best for Every infused or fruit syrup
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