50ml Mile High 69 gin
1 bunch basil leaves (if in doubt as to how much, go heavy on the basil)
25ml fresh lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup

Place basil and lemon into a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle the lemon and basil “smashing” the ingredients. Add sugar syrup and gin and top up with ice. Shake vigorously (the phrase “Hulk Smash!” comes to mind). Double strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with basil leaves.

An abridged, inebriated history:
The Basil Smash was conceived by Jörg Meyer of the Lion in Hamburg in 2008. The drink quickly became a phenomenon, even winning “Best New Cocktail” at the 2008 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. There are two variants to the drink – one using green and one using red basil. We agree with cocktail oracle Simon Difford, who suggests that by not muddling the basil you’ll have a fresher-tasting drink. It’s subjective as to whether this makes it better or not, but worth trying it out for yourself to find out!