Blackberry Basil Smash Recipe
blackberry, basil
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Ingredients
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Blackberry-Basil Smash
Method
Blackberry-Basil Smash
- 1
Muddle fruit and herbs
Place the 8 fresh blackberries and 8 basil leaves in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass. Add the 0.75 oz simple syrup and 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice. Using a sturdy muddler, gently but firmly muddle the blackberries and basil together for about 20–30 seconds until the berries are broken down and the basil is fragrant. Avoid over-macerating the basil to prevent a bitter, grassy taste.
- 2
Add spirit and chill
Add 2 oz gin or bourbon to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cap it, and shake vigorously for about 10–12 seconds to chill and slightly dilute the mixture.
- 3
Strain and assemble
Fill a rocks glass with 1 cup crushed ice. Double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass using a fine mesh strainer (or a Hawthorne strainer plus a julep strainer) to remove seeds and basil bits, unless you prefer the rustic texture and want to pour everything in.
- 4
- 5
Serve
Serve immediately with a short cocktail straw or stirrer so the drink can be re-mixed as the ice melts.