For the summertime I really want to focus on drinks that are refreshing and the lighter spirits (gin, white rum, vodka, cacacha etc) and leave the darker spirits for the fall and winter. This is a drink I came up with but can be duplicated with a wide range of herbs, fruits and spirits. One could make a blackberry thyme smash with rum or peach fennel smash with vodka. Really the possibilities are endless with smashes. I would however recommend using a high quality spirit as well as local fresh ingredients.

For the strawberry basil smash I decided to use gin, specifically one of my favorite brands, Hendrick’s. Hendrick’s is a small batch Scottish gin that falls under the dry category but is different than other dry gins in due to the infusion of rose petals and cucumbers. This leads to a really crisp finish and makes for really good mixing with various fruit flavors.

Strawberry Basil Smash

3 ounces Hendrick’s Gin (another dry gin will do fine)

1 ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 ounce of simple syrup

4 fresh strawberries hulled and quartered

4 basil leaves torn

club soda

In a heavy bottom pint glass muddle strawberries and simple syrup. Once you have a puree add the basil leaves and gently muddle them as well being careful not to let them bruise. Fill glass halfway with ice, add lemon juice and gin and stir well. Add more ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a fresh strawberry and serve with straw. Enjoy

Filed under: Booze Tagged: | Blackberry, Cacacha, Cucumbers, fennel, Gin, Hendrick's, peach, Pint Glass, Rose Petals, Strawberry Basil Smash, thyme, Vodka, White Rum