When we recently interviewed Jared Brown, cocktail historian and Sipsmith Gin Master Distiller, he referred to the art of simplicity as one of the current cocktail trends. He also spoke of Jörg Meyer’s Boilerman Bar in Hamburg and the success it has with serving drinks based on a spirit and modifier.
A little research led us to the Gin Basil Highball by Jörg Meyer, a refreshing and savoury summer drink that celebrates simplicity and gin. Boilerman Bar uses no shakers, just blenders, and the drink is explained in a video which you can watch here. Fresh basil leaves are added to simple syrup and lemon juice in a blender then fine strained to remove any solids. To make the drink, Meyer uses 1 part high proof gin to 1 part basil syrup topped with 2 parts soda water, dry blended in a shaker and served in a small sized highball glass.
It took a couple of trials to get the ratios to our liking and still taste the gin. This Gin Basil Highball recipe is based on the original and has been modified to suit a larger highball glass. When you’re preparing this drink, it’s well worth making a little extra basil syrup because it’s so light and refreshing, one drink is not going to be enough.
Gin Basil Highball Recipe
Based on the drink created by Jörg Meyer of Boilerman Bar
Ingredients
- 45 ml gin, preferably a London Dry such as No 3 Gin
- 40 ml fresh basil syrup (see below)
- 80 ml soda water
- handful of basil leaves with stalks
Glassware: highball glass
Equipment: blender
Garnish: 2 ice spheres, basil leaf
Method
To make the basil syrup, prepare the simple syrup by dissolving sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio.
Add the freshly-squeezed lemon juice to the simple syrup in the ratio of 2 lemon juice to 1 simple syrup.
In a blender, add a handful of basil leaves with their stalks. Add the lemon juice and syrup, and blitz in the blender. The liquid should take a bright green hue. Fine strain to remove any solids that would discolour the drink.
To make the cocktail, add gin, basil syrup and soda water and give it a good stir.
Serve in a chilled highball glass with two ice spheres and garnish with a basil leaf.
You may also like… Gin Basil Smash
