Latitude 42 Vodka · Recipe 07
Strawberry Basil Smash
The smash is messy, joyful, and right.
Ingredients
- 55 ml Latitude 42 Vodka
- 4 fresh strawberries, hulled
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- 20 ml fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml simple syrup (1:1)
Method
Muddle & shake. Serve in a Rocks glass. Garnish with Half strawberry + basil leaf.
The story
The Gin Basil Smash was created by Jörg Meyer at Le Lion in Hamburg in 2008 and became one of the most rapidly adopted modern cocktails in history. Its genius was in the technique: rather than muddling mint (which can turn bitter), Meyer used basil — aromatic, peppery, and incapable of bitterness when handled properly. This vodka variation adds strawberries, which are in their peak season in late spring. The strawberry-basil combination is one of those culinary pairings that feels like it was always waiting to be discovered.
Tasting note
Rose-red and aromatic. Strawberry sweetness gives way to basil's herbal complexity, with lemon providing the structural acidity. An uncomplicated drink that tastes like it was made with thought.