Gin Basil Smash

INGREDIENTS
1 bunch basil
1/2 lemon
2/3 oz simple syrup
3 oz gin (Hendrick’s)

INSTRUCTIONS
Stuff the basil into a cocktail shaker, followed by the lemon. Muddle the lemon and the basil, smashing the ingredients and squeezing the lemon.

Add simple syrup, mix. Meyer suggests tasting mixture on the back of your hand to make sure you’ve nailed the proper balance of sweet and sour.

Fill shaker with ice, top with gin. Shake vigorously until very cold — about 30 or so seconds. A good rule of thumb is to stop when the shaker begins to frost over and it’s almost too painfully cold to hold. Double-strain into a rocks glass filled with ice, squeezing every bit if liquid through a fine mesh strainer with a bar spoon.

Give the glass a stir and add more ice if necessary. Garnish with another basil leaf.