This Strawberry Basil Gin Smash Recipe is as tasty as it is beautiful. Perfect for summer sipping!
Everybody needs a neighbor who delivers cocktails to your door. We are lucky enough to have those neighbors, and they’ve shared their drink recipe with us today!

Gin Strawberry Cocktail
This strawberry gin cocktail is the perfect way to use your fresh crop of basil and celebrate the bounty of your berry picking.
That’s what Jenn and Rob did: they picked enough strawberries for the whole neighborhood.

Easy Gin Cocktail
I’m typically not one to make a mixed drink, but this drink comes together quickly!
The delicious taste and vibrant colors are rewarding and worth it!
For another yummy summer drink idea, try these lemon drop martini recipes.

Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to buy to get the PARTAY started. (For the complete recipe with measurements, scroll a little further down the page.)
Fresh Strawberries
Fresh Basil Leaves
Gin
Lime
Simple Syrup or Stevia
Club Soda or sub sparkling water
Lemon Juice optional

Here’s how to make Jenn and Rob’s Strawberry Basil Gin Smash Recipe:
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Strawberry Basil Gin Smash Recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 drinks 1x
Description
A delicious, lightly sweetened, bubbly cocktail. Perfect for celebrating warm weather or really anything at all! Affiliate links are underlined.
Ingredients
6 medium-size strawberries, quartered
4 basil leaves
5 oz gin
2 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup or stevia to taste
Instructions
- Wash, hull, and quarter the strawberries.
- Add the berries and basil to a cocktail shaker and muddle together.
- Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup (or stevia). Stir.
- Using a slotted spoon, scoop the fruit out and transfer it to the bottom of two high-ball glasses.
- Add ice, then pour the contents of the cocktail shaker over the top. Finish with club soda.
- Garnish with a slice of lime, a basil leaf, whole or sliced strawberries. Stir, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
If you don’t have a muddler or a cocktail shaker, use the back of a spoon and a bowl.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Strawberry, Basil Gin, Smash, Alcohol, Cocktail, Summer Drink
Bar Tools and Accessories
Cocktail tools are not necessary for this drink, but they do come in handy and are a fun thing to add to your arsenal if you plan on making more mixed drinks.
Here’s a short list of tools you’ll want to invest in if you want to become a mixologist.
A Muddler for Mixed Drinks
You will want a muddler to process the herbs for cocktails similar to a Strawberry Basil Smash or Mojito.
The term “muddling” refers to the technique used in mixed drinks to gently mash herbs or fruit to release their juices. This helps the flavors to bind with the alcohol better than simply using them whole.
A muddler helps you to do this gently because if you bruise the herbs, that will release a chemical that can damage the taste of your cocktail.
Muddlers are available in a variety of different finishes, including wood, stainless steel, and silicone. Choose a design that fits your bar or kitchen design.
The best muddler has a comfortable handle and is long enough to reach the bottom of a tall glass, cocktail shaker, or mixing pitcher.
Below is a great steel muddler from OXO on Amazon. (affiliate link)

The Cocktail Shaker
The shaker is perhaps the quintessential and well-known bar accessory. The two most common types are the Cobbler Cocktail Shaker and the Boston Shaker.
The Cobbler-style shaker is a good choice for people making cocktails at home, but the Boston shaker is typically a bartender’s choice because of its versatility and size.
The Cobbler Cocktail Shaker is a three-piece shaker consisting of the main container, a lid with a built-in strainer, and a cap to cover the strainer holes while shaking.
Cobbler shakers are the easiest to use and tend to have a smaller volume, so they are probably the best cocktail shaker for beginners.
Below is a nice premium Cocktail Shaker Bartender Set from Amazon that includes a muddler and a Cobbler cocktail shaker. (affiliate link)

The Boston Cocktail Shaker is usually the choice of professionals.
This shaker consists of 2 parts, a metal vessel, and a pint glass to cover the top and create the seal. More drinks can be shaken at once with a larger size than the Cobbler shaker.
It’s also advantageous for a bar setting because it’s easier to clean and stack. Below is a premium brand Boston cocktail shaker set from Amazon. (affiliate link)

Boston Shaker Cocktail Making Set
Healthy Cocktail
The Strawberry Basil Gin Smash can be more than just a guilty pleasure. It delivers nutrients and can be tweaked further to be even healthier.
Wholesome Ingredients
For starters, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K. They also provide a dose of fiber, folic acid, manganese, and potassium. Strawberries contain significant amounts of phytonutrients and flavonoids.
Similarly, basil is an excellent source of vitamins K, A, and C, manganese, and iron. It also contains calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Keto or Low Carb Friendly Sweetener Alternatives
If you follow a Keto or Low Carbohydrate diet plan, try a natural sugar alternative instead of the simple syrup in the recipe.
I tried this simple switch and used a Stevia Sweetener. The recipe was still delicious!
Stevia brands such as SweetLeaf Stevia Sweetener, NuStevia Stevia, or Truvia Sweetener are great alternatives to cane sugar.
They don’t spike your blood sugar and taste great. (Affiliate links are underlined.)

I hope you try this Strawberry Basil Gin Smash recipe this summer. Here in Minnesota, strawberries and basil are now in season, so I don’t mind if I do.
Join me and start celebrating today!
xo,
Cindy
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This is a such a delicous and beautiful drink for summer celebrations!
★★★★★
This is so good! My new favorite summer drink! Thank you!
★★★★★
Glad you liked it, Jenny! We agree it’s perfect for summer!