Strawberry Smash Cocktail Recipe

The Strawberry Smash cocktail actually does involve smashing strawberries, or more precisely, muddling them. With basil. And then you add to that vodka, lemon and a bit of agave nectar, and you’ve got a fabulous summer cocktail.

The dominant flavor here is definitely strawberry, and using muddled fruit makes it taste so refreshing. Basil has a slightly peppery taste that contrasts with the strawberry and actually brings out its flavor.

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The whole concoction is one of those “summertime in a glass” cocktails that are just perfect on warm days. This drink celebrates the juicy sweetness of fresh strawberries, complemented by the subtle peppery notes of basil.

What sets the Strawberry Smash apart is the muddling process, which involves gently crushing the ripe strawberries and basil leaves to extract their essence. This simple technique gets more flavor from the basil leaves than if you just shook them in with the cocktail.

What’s In It

This is one of those drinks where you may not always have all the ingredients on hand. Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious cocktail:

• Strawberries: For each cocktail you want to make, you’ll need two large, ripe strawberries, plus more for garnish if you want.
• Basil: You’ll need two basil leaves per drink, plus more for garnish, optionally.
• Vodka: 1 1/2 ounces per drink. Pick a good drinkable vodka for this, but it doesn’t have to be top shelf.
• Lemon Juice: 1/2 ounce per drink. Fresh squeezed is always best.
• Agave: 3/4 ounce per drink. This serves as a natural sweetener, rounding out the flavors.

You can use simple syrup in place of the agave, but agave does add a little flavor of its own which would be missed. The rest of the ingredients are required, although you could probably make a very tasty drink if you wanted to substitute rum or gin for the vodka.

Muddling Notes

The key to this drink lies in the muddling process. Gently muddling the fresh strawberries and basil leaves in the bottom of the shaker releases their essential oils and juices, creating a flavorful base for the cocktail.

Muddling isn’t difficult. You just take a muddler and gently smash with it. It’s important to use a gentle touch when muddling, as you don’t want to bruise or tear the delicate basil leaves.

A light, circular motion is all that’s needed to extract the desired flavors without introducing any bitterness.