Gin Basil Smash

According to Mixology.eu, the gin basil smash was invented … by two bar owners, around the same time in Germany, independently!

Jörg Meyer (Bar Le Lion and Boilerman in Hamburg, Germany) created the tasty drink in 2008. The drink went on to win “Best New Cocktail” at the 2008 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.

Meanwhile, the same year in Ulm, Germany, apparently Hariolf Sproll (busy opening Blaupause) stumbled upon the same variation of the whiskey smash. (He called it simply the “Basil Smash.”)

Gin Basil Smash. Photo by Tamara Olson. Cocktail by Brian Kroski.

This light and refreshing cocktail is one of my go to drinks. I up-leveled the tasty recipe last year: Instead of relying on wilting supermarket basil, I started growing my own basil with a handy Click ‘N’ Grow. Be sure to spend a bit of extra time muddling (we recommend at least 20-30 seconds) to achieve the iconic green color.

Ingredients

• 8-10 basil leaves
• 1/3 oz agave
• 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice
• 2 1/4 ounces gin

Instructions

Muddle (smash!) agave and basil leaves. Add lemon juice. Stir vigorously. Add gin and ice to cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into rocks glass with one large ice cube. Garnish with basil leaves.