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’.
This twist on the modern-classic Basil Smash substitutes gin with vodka while maintaining the lemon juice, simple syrup, and basil leaves. The result is a sublime drink that perfectly balances citrusy and herbal flavors.
The Vodka Basil Smash is a great herbaceous summer drink that works at any occasion, casual or upscale. So, grab your shaker and let’s smash this!
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
-
Add Basil Leaves to a cocktail shaker.
-
Cut a Lemon in half, then use a citrus press (or citrus elbow) to juice the Lemon halves.
-
Use a jigger to measure and pour Lemon Juice into the shaker.
-
Use the jigger to measure and add Simple Syrup.
-
Measure and add Absolut Vodka.
-
Fill your shaker with ice cubes all the way to the top.
-
Seal the shaker and shake hard until the shaker is ice cold.
-
Add ice cubes to a rocks glass.
-
Open the shaker, place a Hawthorne strainer over the opening. In your other hand, hold a fine mesh strainer over your glass.
-
Pour your cocktail through both strainers directly into your glass.
-
Garnish with a couple of Basil Leaves.
ALL ABOUT THE VODKA BASIL SMASH
The Vodka Basil Smash is a popular cocktail that is part of the Smash cocktail family, drawing inspiration from the original smash, the Whiskey Smash. It uses lemon juice and simple syrup like the original, but swaps bourbon for vodka and mint for basil.
It’s a shaken cocktail, fine strained and served in a rocks glass with ice cubes.
“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,” explains Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.
And he’s right. The Vodka Basil Smash perfectly balances citrus and herbal flavors with the wonderful sweet, aroma of basil stealing the show.
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.
- Smash those basil leaves with plenty of ice.
It’s called a Vodka Basil Smash for a reason. To fully release the aromas and flavors of the basil leaves, make sure to shake your cocktail vigorously so the leaves are smashed. “We want to destroy them,” says Rico. But how do we do that?“We want to get as much ice in (to the cocktail shaker) 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,” explains Rico.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice
A well-made Vodka Basil Smash balances sweet and sour perfectly and the only way you’re going to get that sourness is by using real lemon juice. Forget the store-bought bottled juice; instead, grab a couple of lemons and a citrus press. The way the acidity and sourness from fresh lemon juice blends with the sweetness of simple syrup is what makes great cocktails.
-
- Make it with gin
The Vodka Basil Smash is a variation of the Basil Smash, which is made with gin. The juniper notes from the gin go so well with the basil leaves. Try it for yourself. Check out the recipe for a Basil Smash. - Watermelon Smash
This variation smashes together vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and fresh muddled watermelon, served in a rocks glass with crushed ice. If this doesn’t scream summer to you, we don’t know what will! Discover the recipe for a Watermelon Smash. - Whiskey Smash
It’s impossible to talk about smash cocktails without naming the original – the Whiskey Smash. Made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, garnished with fresh mint, it’s an indisputable classic. See our recipe for a Whiskey Smash.
- Make it with gin
To discover more Smash cocktail variations, be sure to check out our Smash collection.
- We recommend serving a Vodka Basil Smash in a rocks glass filled with ice cubes.
- To garnish, we recommend placing a couple of basil leaves or a sprig of basil directly on top of your drink.
- Cut a coin-shape piece of lemon zest and express the oils over your drink to add a delightful fresh, citrusy aroma that will enhance the lemon juice in your 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.
