Memorial Day is sort of the unofficial launch of cookout season. You may be pulling the grill out of storage and firing it up, or maybe you purchased one and are trying to get it lit. Either way, that first cookout of the season can be hectic, so once the dust has settled, here is a cocktail to add to your repertoire for your next cookout.
This cocktail is sweet and refreshing, which makes it the perfect accompaniment to spending time with family and friends in the sun. I’ve chosen strawberries and basil for this smash, because strawberries are in season it’s also National Strawberry Month. The only non-standard ingredient I included in this cocktail is Green Chartreuse. There is a long and interesting history behind this French liqueur, but for now all you need to know is that its flavor profile is vegetal and herbal due to the 130 herbs and plants included in the recipe. If you don’t have it on hand, you could add an additional basil leaf and substitute the Green Chartreuse with more simple syrup.
This is a perfect cocktail to prepare for your guests at a cookout and you could even get creative and scale it to make a punch if you were to infuse the gin with basil and run the strawberries through a food processor instead of muddling them. Have fun with it and try some variations like swapping the basil with mint or the strawberries with cucumber.
Cheers.
Edit Note: Thanks to Michael for correcting me, as I originally was calling this a fizz when it is actually a smash.
Strawberry Basil Gin Smash
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces gin
- ½ ounce Green Chartreuse
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- 4 strawberries
- 3 leaves fresh basil
- club soda
Instructions
- Muddle 3 strawberries and 2 basil leaves in shaker.
- Add gin, Green Chartreuse, simple syrup, lemon juice, and ice. Shake then strain into rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with club soda and garnish with the sliced strawberry and remaining basil leaf.
This drink is great! Complex, boozy, and refreshing!
Thanks Jamie!