Average
Fresh & Sour
3 Minutes
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
The Vodka Basil Smash is a world-class drink that belongs to the family of cocktails known as ‘smashes’.
A twist on the modern classic Basil Smash, it swaps gin for vodka while keeping the lemon juice, simple syrup and fresh basil leaves intact – a sublime cocktail that perfectly balances citrus and herbal flavors.
Herbaceous, citrusy and perfectly balanced, the Vodka Basil Smash works at any occasion, casual or upscale
How To Make A vodka basil smash cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Boston Shaker
Hawthorne Strainer
Citrus Press
How to Mix
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Add Basil Leaves to a cocktail shaker.
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Cut a Lemon in half, then use a citrus press (or citrus elbow) to juice the Lemon halves.
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Use a jigger to measure and pour Lemon Juice into the shaker.
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Use the jigger to measure and add Simple Syrup.
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Measure and add Absolut Vodka.
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Fill your shaker with ice cubes all the way to the top.
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Seal the shaker and shake hard until the shaker is ice cold.
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Add ice cubes to a rocks glass.
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Open the shaker, place a Hawthorne strainer over the opening. In your other hand, hold a fine mesh strainer over your glass.
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Pour your cocktail through both strainers directly into your glass.
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Garnish with a couple of Basil Leaves.
ALL ABOUT THE VODKA BASIL SMASH
The Vodka Basil Smash is part of the Smash cocktail family, drawing inspiration from the original smash, the Whiskey Smash. Like the original, it uses lemon juice and simple syrup but swaps bourbon for vodka and mint for basil, giving it a cleaner, more herbaceous character.
It’s shaken, fine strained and served in a rocks glass over ice.
“It’s a super nice Vodka Sour, the lemon and the sugar are perfectly balanced as always and then you just get that hit of fresh basil. Super fresh on the nose, sweet, balanced and beautifully crafted,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
He’s right. Citrus up front, a clean herbal hit from the basil and just enough sweetness to bring it all together – the basil is the star, but nothing overshadows anything else.
The Basil Smash, made with gin and fresh basil leaves, is a contemporary twist on the Whiskey Smash, which dates back to the late 1880s. The Basil Smash was invented at a bar in Germany in 2008 and swiftly earned its status as a modern classic.
While the exact origin is unclear, it’s probable that a vodka-based variation of the Basil Smash emerged soon after, giving rise to the Vodka Basil Smash.
The basil and the lemon do the heavy lifting — here’s how to let them.
- Smash those basil leaves
It’s called a Vodka Basil Smash for a reason. To fully release the aromas and flavors of the basil, shake vigorously. “We want to destroy them,” says Rico. And to do that properly, you need plenty of ice.As Rico explains, “we want to get as much ice in as possible. We want to shake as much as possible but we don’t want much dilution. This means one thing – loads and loads of ice.”
- Always use fresh lemon juice
The balance of sweet and sour is everything in a Vodka Basil Smash and the only way to get that sourness right is with real lemon juice. Skip the bottled stuff and grab a couple of lemons and a citrus press.The way fresh lemon juice blends with simple syrup is what separates a good Vodka Basil Smash from a great one.
- Make it with gin
The Vodka Basil Smash is itself a variation of the Basil Smash – the gin original. The juniper notes of gin pair naturally with basil in a way that’s worth trying. Two versions of the same great drink, both worth knowing. - Watermelon Smash
This variation smashes together vodka, lime juice, simple syrup and fresh muddled watermelon, served in a rocks glass with crushed ice. Bold, fruity and made for summer. Try the Watermelon Smash. - Whiskey Smash
No conversation about smash cocktails is complete without the original – the Whiskey Smash. Bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and fresh mint. An indisputable classic.
The ingredients are simple. The finish should match. Here’s how to serve a Vodka Basil Smash.
- Glassware
Serve the Vodka Basil Smash a rocks glass filled with ice cubes, it’s the natural home for this drink. - Basil garnish
Place a couple of basil leaves or a sprig of basil directly on top, it reinforces the herbal character of the drink and looks clean and intentional in the glass. - Lemon zest
Cut a coin-shaped piece of lemon zest and express the oils over the drink before dropping it in. It adds a subtle citrus aroma that lifts the lemon juice already in the cocktail.
There’s a real reason why drinks like this stand the test of time, and there’s a reason why new, modern drinks that are simple like this travel around the world… because they’re delicious. That’s all it is.
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
VODKA BASIL SMASH FAQ
Smash cocktails consist of a base spirit together with lemon juice and simple syrup. Therefore, a classic Vodka Smash is made with vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
However, there are countless ways to put a twist on the drink and make it your own. For example, you could use a flavored vodka or add basil or mint.
No. Instead you should give them a good smash in your cocktail shaker filled with plenty of ice cubes. Shake hard until the basil leaves are smashed completely. Then it’s time to fine strain your drink.
Yes. When you’re smashing fresh basil leaves in the shaker with ice, make sure to strain it well so you don’t get any bits of basil in your drink – nobody wants that. Use a Hawthorne strainer together with a fine mesh strainer. Learn more about how to double strain a cocktail.
