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    Home > Drinks

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash

    Published: Jun 10, 2017 · Modified: May 27, 2021 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Print Recipe

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!

    A really quick one today. It’s world gin day!

    I usually ignore most of the food/drink holidays (there are so many of them!!). I mean, bacon day, Nutella day, coffee day – they’re important for obvious reasons – but National Oatmeal-Nut, Waffle day and National strawberry rhubarb pie day? Come on – they’re just a bit too specific.

    I kind of think random people and companies are just declaring their own days.

    If that's allowed I’m going for:

    National well-cooked Warbuton’s crumpet with salted butter and latte-made-with-Nespresso-Rosabaya-De-Columbia day.

    How’s that for specific!

    Incidentally, yes, that was my breakfast.

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!

    Anyway, despite the fact I only occasionally take part in these days, I realised that it’s Saturday, and therefore I will be having a gin and tonic later. My Saturday night gin usually consists of Hendricks with cucumber and naturally light Fever Tree tonic.

    But since it’s gin day, I’m going all out with a gin-based drink that one of Chris’s friends - Will - recommended.

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!

    A simple sugar syrup (usually that’s enough to put me off, cocktails really shouldn’t include the need for a saucepan, but it only takes 5 mins really) muddled with basil leaves, cucumber and ice, then finished off with gin and a splash of tonic. I thoroughly tested this on a hot sunny afternoon a couple of weeks ago and it’s a winner.

    It’s a fair amount of basil, but it doesn’t overpower the drink, it compliments it perfectly!

    The Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash Recipe:

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!

    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - A light and fragrant cocktail you'll want to drink all through summer!
    5 from 1 vote
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine British
    Servings 1 glass
    Calories 326 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tbsp granulated sugar - for decorating the glass – optional
    • 8 basil leaves
    • 8 slices cucumber - about 5mm thick
    • 2 tbsp sugar syrup - boil 2 parts cold water with 1 part granulated sugar, whilst stirring constantly for 3-4 mins – until the sugar dissolves – to make this
    • 50 ml gin - Tanqueray or Hendricks is a good choice
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice
    • Crushed ice
    • Splash of tonic water - my fave is naturally light Fever Tree
    • Strips of cucumber - use a vegetable peeler to make these
    • A few basil leaves to decorate

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Make a sugar rim on the glass by dipping the rim of the glass in a sauce of water. Spread the sugar on another saucer and dip the rim of the glass in the sugar.
    • Place the basil leaves and cucumber in a cocktail shaker and muddle (or gently bash) with a muddler or wooden spoon until the basil and cucumber are bruised and the scent is released. Add the sugar syrup, gin, lemon juice and ice. Shake vigorously until frost forms on the outside of the cocktail shaker.
    • Fill your glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. Top up with tonic water. Decorate with strips of cucumber and basil leaves.

    ✎ Notes

    Nutritional Information is per serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 326kcalCarbohydrates: 55gSodium: 25mgPotassium: 76mgSugar: 54gVitamin A: 170IUVitamin C: 7.6mgIron: 1.4mg
    Keywords Any Time Of the year, bbq, dinner party, summer
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Have you tried any of our other amazing cocktails from our drinks section?

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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    1. Diane says

      June 16, 2020 at 5:23 pm

      Ah basil and cucumber!! The smell and taste of summer in this beautifully fresh cocktail.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Kath says

      May 14, 2018 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      What can I say, just my new favourite way to enjoy a cheeky G & T 😘

      Reply

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    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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