Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash - a light and refreshing drink with muddled basil and cucumber, a hint of lemon and plenty of ice - perfect for summer.
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I've been making this cocktail for years now (in fact I first published the recipe for this in 2017). It's such a delightfully refreshing drink.
Everything is perfectly balanced, so no flavour overpowers another.
Serve it up on a hot summers day with a table full of crisps, nuts and nibbles. What could be better!
📋 What do we need?
There are some many great gins available - so use your favourite. It's best to go with a regular gin, rather than a gin that has extra flavours though - as you want the cucumber and basil to really shine through.
📺 Watch how to make it
Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Muddle up cucumber and basil in a cocktail shaker or jug (just give it a bit of bash to release the flavours).
- Add sugar syrup, gin, lemon juice and crushed ice, then give that cocktail shaker a good shake.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice (I like to add a sugar rim to my glass before I strain the cocktail in, but that's optional).
- Decorate with strips of cucumber and fresh basil leaves.
👩🍳PRO TIP You can buy sugar syrup in the supermarket, but it's REALLY easy to make your own. Simply boil 2 parts water with 1 part sugar, stir until dissolved and allow to cool.
🍹Alcohol-free version
You can of course replace the gin with non-alcoholic gin if you're looking for a no-alcohol version. My favourites are 'CleanCo Clean G', 'Caleño Light & Zesty Tropical Non-Alcoholic Spirit' and 'Tanqueray Alcohol Free Spirit'.
🫙Where to find the mason jars
These are 240ml (8oz) quilted mason jars that I picked up from Amazon.
Here's the link (fyi - it's an affiliate link) - to the Mason Jars.
🍸 More fantastic Drink recipes
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Gin and Cucumber Basil Smash
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar - for decorating the glass – optional
- 8 basil leaves
- 8 slices cucumber - about 5mm thick
- 2 tbsp sugar syrup - *See Tip
- 50 ml (1.75 oz) 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.
Video
✎ Notes
- Boil 2 parts cold water with 1 part granulated sugar, whilst stirring constantly for 3-4 mins – until the sugar dissolves.
- Turn off the heat and leave to cool
- Use right away, or pour into a sterilised jar and keep in the fridge for up to a month.
Here's the link (fyi - it's an affiliate link) - to the Mason Jars. Nutritional Information is per serving (this recipe is for one glass).
Nutrition
This post was first published in June 2017. Updated May 2022 with a recipe video and some housekeeping.
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.
Nikki M says
My cocktail recipe of choice while on vacay in Destin, FL... now home, and my new fave!
Margaret says
I don’t like sweet drinks much, is this quite sweet or mildly sweet. I love these flavours.
Diane says
Ah basil and cucumber!! The smell and taste of summer in this beautifully fresh cocktail.
Thank you!
Kath says
What can I say, just my new favourite way to enjoy a cheeky G & T 😘