A couple years ago, when visiting Napa Valley, I had a bartender make me the most amazing cocktail that had two main ingredients: gin and basil. I hesitated to order this drink because I didn’t even like gin at the time. The bartender convinced me to order it, and he promised that I would enjoy this drink.

He was right! That had to be one of the BEST cocktails I’ve ever had, and from that point on, I was a gin lover.

Since then, I’ve seen this drink on several other cocktail menus. I always order it when we’re out, but I had never tried making it at home. A couple months ago, I finally decided to give it a go and see if I could re-create this cocktail at home. I kept it simple and used just a few ingredients for my recipe. Honestly, I think it’s delicious, and it tastes pretty similar to the cocktails you’ll find in the restaurant. Of course, it’s the not the exact same, but that’s what makes cocktails so exciting and unique!

Anyways, give it a go and let me know what you think. Even if you aren’t a fan of gin, this cocktail may change your mind. Cheers!

Gin Basil Smash

Print Recipe

Course Drinks

Servings 1 drink

Ingredients

3 oz gin
1½ oz lime juice
1 tsp simple syrup
½ cup basil leaves

Instructions

Before making your cocktail, make sure to chill your cocktail glass. I like to add ice cubes to the glass while I make the drink.
Add the simple syrup and basil leaves to your cocktail shaker. Muddle the basil leaves. Do this for a couple minutes until the basil leaves are completely crushed.
Add ice to the cocktail shaker.
Add your gin and lime juice to the cocktail shaker. Shake all ingredients thoroughly.
If you were chilling your cocktail glass, remove the ice cubes. Pour the mixture into the cocktail glass and garnish with a few basil leaves.

Gadgets

If you decide to try the cocktail, let me know how it turns out! I love it because it’s super simple, but so delicious. Plus, it looks super fancy if you put it in the right kind of glass.

What are some of your favorite gin cocktails? I’m always looking to try new cocktail recipes. Cheers!