The cocktail notebook · Gin
Gin Basil Smash
Fresh basil, gin botanicals and lemon. A herbal sour made by shake and strain.
- Base
- gin
- Method
- Shake & Strain
- Glass
- Chilled cocktail coupe
- Yield
- One drink
Recipe reference: IBA reference recipe. House specifies 1:1 syrup and fine straining; IBA names a chilled cocktail glass and no garnish.
Gin Basil Smash recipe
1 serving · IBA reference recipeMillilitres control this recipe. US fluid ounces are rounded to the nearest quarter ounce for convenience and are not a different recipe ratio. Dashes, spoons, leaves and other non-liquid measures are listed as written.
| Measure | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 60 ml≈ 2 US fl oz | gin |
| 22.5 ml≈ 0.75 US fl oz | fresh lemon juice |
| 22.5 ml≈ 0.75 US fl oz | simple syrup, 1:1 by mass |
| 10 leaves | fresh Italian basil |
Ice: Shaking ice only. Garnish: None.
Learning bar service? Continue with the Gin Basil Smash in module 4 of the free course →
How to make it
- Wash and inspect ten sound basil leaves.
- Add basil, gin, lemon and syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously to mix, chill and extract basil aroma.
- Strain through a cocktail strainer and fine sieve into a chilled coupe.
Why it works: Basil contributes aroma and colour, not a known measured liquid volume. Fine straining is a disclosed service choice to remove leaf fragments.
Common mistakes, useful fixes
Brown aroma
inspect leaf condition.
Fragments
use clean fine straining equipment.
Different basil
trial the variety rather than assuming identical flavour.
Serving the guest
What to tell the guest
Fresh basil, gin botanicals and lemon. Basil contributes aroma and colour, not a known measured liquid volume. Fine straining is a disclosed service choice to remove leaf fragments.
Dietary and product checks
Check exact products, declared allergens and cross-contact controls before service.
Variations
- Any adaptation needs a recorded recipe and an honest description. Explain the served-up teaching version and confirm the venue’s approved rocks variation.
Where does the Gin Basil Smash come from?
Origin: Origin not yet verified in this edition. (Origin not yet verified in this edition)
This modern herbal sour demonstrates that an aromatic ingredient need not be a liqueur or syrup. Basil is shaken with the citrus base, then removed for this served-up version. A separate history check is still needed before teaching a precise creator or date; the lesson does not invent one.
Gin Basil Smash questions
Are ten basil leaves included in the liquid percentage denominator?
No. They are listed separately because their extracted contribution is unmeasured.
What preparation detail matters for this order?
Basil contributes aroma and colour, not a known measured liquid volume. Fine straining is a disclosed service choice to remove leaf fragments.
From a recipe to a repeatable skill
Learn the method behind the order.
Gin Basil Smash is a required study in Essential Cocktails & Bar Foundations, module 4: Fresh ingredients and finishing. Compare basil extraction with mint handling; filter leaf fragments.
The course is free. An optional paid certificate tests knowledge in an online exam; it is not an observed practical assessment or an accredited bartending qualification.