Pineapple + Basil Smash Cocktail Recipe | Craft Cocktail at Home
Introduction
If you’re seeking a vibrant, refreshing drink that stands out from the usual cocktail lineup, the Pineapple + Basil Smash Cocktail offers the perfect solution. The juicy brightness of pineapple pairs exceptionally with the aromatic freshness of basil, creating a craft cocktail that instantly elevates any gathering. Its balance of sweet, tart, and herbal notes makes it both distinctive and crowd-pleasing, ideal for summer parties or a relaxing evening at home.
Why the Pineapple + Basil Smash Cocktail Stands Out
This cocktail isn’t just another sweet drink—it’s a harmonious blend of ripe pineapple’s tropical flavors and basil’s peppery green aroma. This surprising combination not only looks stunning in the glass but delights the palate with every sip. The straightforward technique and fresh ingredients make it a breeze to whip up, ensuring a memorable, bar-quality cocktail experience at home.
Choosing and Prepping Your Ingredients
For the best taste, use fresh pineapple for maximum juiciness and a deep, natural sweetness. Select vibrant, unblemished basil leaves with a strong fragrance; this is key for that signature herbal pop. Gently muddle the pineapple and basil to release their flavors without making the drink bitter. A quality gin or vodka complements the fresh flavors, but even a decent white rum works beautifully.
Crafting Your Pineapple + Basil Smash Cocktail
To assemble your cocktail, start by muddling fresh pineapple and basil leaves in a shaker to unlock their flavors. Add your preferred spirit, fresh lime juice, and a touch of simple syrup—shake vigorously with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass, garnish with a sprig of basil or a pineapple wedge, and enjoy a luxuriously fresh cocktail at home.
Serving Suggestions for a Stunning Presentation
For a showstopper look, serve your Pineapple + Basil Smash in a chilled rocks glass piled high with crushed ice. Garnish with extra basil leaves or a wedge of pineapple on the rim. This cocktail pairs beautifully with small bites like shrimp skewers, grilled flatbreads, or fresh fruit platters—perfect for sunny weekend gatherings.
Nutritional Information and Standard Serving Size
Each Pineapple + Basil Smash serves one and contains roughly 150–180 calories (depending on spirit and any sweetener adjustments). It provides a refreshing and lower-calorie alternative to many pre-mixed drinks, especially when made with minimal simple syrup.
Pineapple + Basil Smash Cocktail (Recap)
A Pineapple + Basil Smash is everything a craft cocktail lover wants: bright tropical fruit, crisp herbal finish, easy to make, and sure to impress any guest. With its striking appearance and bold flavors, this cocktail deserves a spot in your home bartending repertoire.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and keeping your bar stocked for cocktail hour.
Instructions
- Add basil leaves and pineapple chunks to a cocktail shaker. Gently muddle until the pineapple is crushed and the basil is fragrant (avoid shredding the basil too much).
- Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and a generous amount of ice.
- Shake vigorously for 20 seconds until well chilled and combined.
- Double strain (through a fine mesh sieve) into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with extra basil leaves and a pineapple wedge, if desired.
Weekly Meal Planning
This cocktail is an excellent option for weekly entertaining or as a planned highlight for weekend meals. Save and schedule this recipe to make sure basil and pineapple are on your next shopping list, and let CookifyAI organize everything for you—no missing cocktail essentials!
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically aggregates ingredients for all your planned recipes and drinks
- Sorts everything by grocery store section, making shopping quicker
- Helps minimize food waste by planning uses for leftover pineapple or basil in other meals
- Makes it easy to prep for parties or date night by keeping everything streamlined in your shopping list
Pro tip: When planning several meals and cocktails, schedule your recipes so ingredient quantities and overlaps (such as limes, basil) are combined—simplifying your shopping and ensuring you get exactly what you need!
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes