COOL KID SMASH

An even cooler twist on the classic Basil Smash, this easy 5-ingredient cocktail is fresh, herbal, and summery. Plus, it has cucumber in it, so it's basically a vegetable, right?

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Prep time: 20 minutes

Makes 1 cocktail

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Ingredients: 

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2 cucumber slices, plus 1 for garnish

10-12 basil leaves, plus a few for garnish

3/4 oz simple syrup

2 oz gin

1 oz fresh lemon juice

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Instructions:

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1.) To make your simple syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water on the stove (1/2 a cup of each will be more than enough for this recipe) and heat on medium, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. 

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2.) Tear 10-12 basil leaves in half and add them to the bottom of your shaker along with 2 cucumber slices and simple syrup. Using a muddler (or anything else you find that will work) press ingredients in quarter turns until basil is bruised and very fragrant and cucumber is somewhat mashed. 

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3.) Add gin and lemon juice and fill shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds or until the shaker feels really cold. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish with remaining basil and cucumber. Be cool and enjoy. 

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