What does a gin basil smash taste like?
A gin basil smash tastes like a bright green lemonade for grown-ups: lots of fresh basil, tart lemon and gin, herbal and sharp.
Gin basil smash
fresh basil lemonade, boozy
A gin basil smash is gin, lemon juice and sugar shaken hard with a big handful of fresh basil, then strained over ice. The basil gets bruised in the shaker, so the drink turns bright green and tastes like the herb itself: peppery, sweet and almost minty. Lemon makes it tart and lively, and the gin's botanicals tie it together. It smells like a summer garden. It's a modern classic, created at a bar in Hamburg, and it's one of the freshest-tasting drinks on any menu.
Where you’ll see it
At cocktail bars and on spring and summer menus, served over ice in a rocks glass with a basil sprig. Its original name was the Gin Pesto, for the color.
Order it if you love fresh herbs and want something tart and green.
Quick questions
- Does a gin basil smash taste like basil?
- Yes, a lot. Fresh basil is shaken right into it, so the herb is the main flavor, with lemon and gin behind it.
- Is a gin basil smash sweet?
- Not very. It leans tart, like a lemony sour, with just enough sugar to keep it from being sharp.