This will be our second blog post in a row with a cocktail recipe. I think this is to be celebrated – the more scrumptious cocktails the better! So, sit back (after making a Rosemary Gimlet, Watermelon Moscow Mule or Rhubarb Margarita) and enjoy reading our post about the Blueberry Basil Smash.
Of course, we love recipes like our Blueberry Crumble Pie, but, sometimes we are in need of a more adult way to enjoy the abundant supply of summertime fruit. Smash cocktails, which are essentially a combination of Spirit + Fruit + Herb + Sweetener that are muddled then mixed with a bit of soda or water, are the perfect summer drink (and the perfect excuse to slip fresh blueberries into your cocktails).
Smash cocktails, always packed with seasonal fruit, are refreshing any time of the year. If you don’t agree, just revisit our Blood Orange Gin Smash featured back in January. You can enjoy a smash cocktail at any time, but this summer, fresh blueberries will add a layer of sweet fruity flavor, creating a berry rendition of our Spiked Basil Lemonade. The versatility of the Spirit + Fruit + Herb + Sweetener Smash Formula makes the adaptability of this cocktail seemingly endless. One can make it as sweet or tart and as potent or diluted as your tastes desire. The sky is really the limit on this one.
Basically you can use whatever fruit you have on hand. Cherries or blackberries would make great substitutions for the blueberries. No lemons? Limes or oranges would work great in the smash formula.
Don’t feel like making simple syrup? A tablespoon of agave nectar or honey will add the touch of sweetness you need. It will still work toward balancing the tartness of the lemon and the herbaceous notes of the basil.
Gin could easily be used in place of vodka, if gin is more to your taste (of course, Kyle extensively tested the taste of this cocktail with both gin and vodka, for the sake of research….). Depending on how smash-ing you wish to make this cocktail, add as much – or as little – club soda to the drink as you wish.
For a little smash cocktail history, we can start back in 1862 in Jerry Thomas’ How to Mix Drinks, or, The Bon Vivant’s Companion. Thomas doesn’t mention the smash by name, in fact, he calls it a julep. However, his definition of his julep most definitely is the beginning of the smash cocktail. His version called for “equal parts peach and common brandy, topped with crushed ice.”
In 1888, a barman named Johnson created a cocktail called the Medford Rum Smash. He called for “fine ice” instead of shaved or crushed ice, but the smash vibe is still evident. Through the years the smash took on many forms, made with a variety of liquors, and with a variety in the ice and fruit additions – the basic elements remain the same: a spirit base, ice, herb, sweetener and of course, seasonal fruit.
Overall, the adaptability and refreshing tasting notes of this drink embody the easygoing and relaxing aspects of the summer season. So power through yet ANOTHER cocktail post – it is totally worth it, especially after you are sipping your smash on your hammock or porch swing!
- ½ ounce simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
- ½ lemon, peel and pith removed, cut in ½
- 3 - 4 basil leaves, plus more for garnish
- 12 - 15 blueberries (a small handful), plus more for garnish
- 1 ½ ounces vodka
- Club soda
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the simple syrup, lemon, basil, and blueberries. Add the vodka and shake well.
- Pour the contents of the shaker into a tub glass and top with club soda - 2 to 4 ounces, depending upon the desired strength of your drink.
Anne Sams says
This is a beautiful cocktail!
Anne Sams says
Another idea for the blueberries in my fridge!