Gin Basil Smash

Photo by Michael Piazza / Styled by Catrine Kelty

First crafted in 2008 by Jörg Meyer at Le Lion in Hamburg, Germany, after he tasted Dale DeGroff’s version of the Whiskey Smash. Meyer was inspired when he saw a photo of a gin drink garnished with basil, and the rest is history.

Makes 1 drink

½ lemon, cut into wedges
10 leaves basil
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce simple syrup

Muddle the lemon wedges and basil. Add the gin and simple syrup, shake with ice and double strain into a double Old Fashioned or similar tumbler-style glass. Fill with crushed ice, garnish with a basil sprig tip and add a straw. 

(Note: Simple syrup is equal parts white sugar and water whisked together until the sugar is dissolved.)

This recipe appeared in the Summer 2022 issue as part of a larger story, Make This Summer a Smash.