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Strawberry Basil Smash

Strawberry Basil Smash (Vegan) — Spring Cocktail

Bright, herbaceous, and utterly refreshing — this Strawberry Basil Smash (Vegan) spring cocktail makes warm afternoons taste like sunshine in a glass. It looks cute, drinks lighter than it looks, and takes five minutes to make. Sound like your kind of drink? Great — let’s make one
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 60
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 medium strawberries hulled and cut into pieces
  • 3 fresh basil leaves roughly torn
  • 1/2 a lime juiced
  • Crushed ice — about 1 cup
  • Sparkling water or soda to top (about 4–6 oz / 120–180 ml)
  • Optional alcohol: 1.5 oz gin or vodka — add if you want a boozy version (skip for vegan mocktail)

Equipment

  • Old-fashioned glass or highball glass
  • Muddler (or wooden spoon / sturdy pestle)
  • Jigger (if you add alcohol)
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Ice crusher or a rolling pin + bag for crushed ice (optional)
  • You don’t need anything fancy. If you don’t own a muddler, use a wooden spoon and press firmly. I’ve made dozens with a spoon; it works just fine, promise.

Method
 

  1. Prep the fruit and basil. Wash and hull the strawberries. Roughly chop them and tear the basil leaves. Juice half a lime and set everything beside the glass.
  2. Muddle. Add the strawberries, basil, and lime juice to your glass. Use your muddler (or spoon) to gently crush the berries and bruise the basil. Aim for fragrant aromatics and broken-down fruit, not a smoothie.
  3. Add ice. Fill the glass with crushed ice to the top. Crushed ice chills quickly and gives the drink a slushy, refreshing texture.
  4. Top and stir. Pour sparkling water over the ice until the glass reaches near the rim. If you want alcohol, add 1.5 oz gin before topping. Give the drink a gentle stir to combine flavors.
  5. Garnish and serve. Float a small basil leaf and a halved strawberry on top. Squeeze a tiny extra lime wedge if you want more tang. Sip and enjoy!
  6. Serving note: This recipe serves 1. Double or triple the ingredient amounts to make pitchers for a crowd.

Notes

Serving for a crowd (pitcher method)

To scale this to four people, multiply the ingredients:
  • 12 strawberries
  • 12 basil leaves
  • 2 limes (juiced)
  • Crushed ice (lots)
  • Sparkling water, about 1 L (or top per glass)
Muddle strawberries and basil in a large pitcher, add lime, then chill. When guests arrive, add ice and sparkling water, stir gently, and serve. Keep a small bowl of extra basil for garnish.