Rosemary Gin Smash Cocktail Recipe

I’m always on the hunt for simple but flavorful cocktails to whip up at home. The Rosemary Gin Smash hits that sweet spot—it’s got the crisp bite of gin, earthy rosemary, and a punch of zesty lemon.

This recipe’s honestly a breeze to follow, and it’s a fun way to add a homemade twist to your next happy hour.

With just a handful of fresh ingredients and some basic bar tools, you can mix up a drink that feels a little fancy but still totally approachable.

If you’re into classic cocktails with an herbal kick, you might want to stick around for this one.

Rosemary Gin Smash Cocktail Recipe

This drink is bright, refreshing, and honestly, it couldn’t be much easier to make at home.

All you need are a few tools and some fresh ingredients, and you’ll have a crisp cocktail loaded with herbal and citrus notes.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker
• Muddler
• Strainer
• Jigger or small measuring cup
• Rocks glass or tumbler
• Bar spoon

I swear by a real muddler—it really gets the rosemary and lemon to release all their aroma. No muddler? The back of a spoon works if you’re in a pinch.

Shaking with ice chills everything fast, and a strainer keeps those leaves out of your glass.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 oz simple syrup (or rosemary simple syrup)
• 2-3 small sprigs rosemary (plus extra for garnish)
• Ice cubes
• Optional: a few berries, like blackberries or raspberries, for color and extra flavor

I usually grab a classic London Dry gin for that clean herbal vibe, but honestly, use what you like. Fresh lemon juice is a must—bottled stuff just doesn’t cut it.

Regular simple syrup is fine, but if you want a deeper herbal note, try making rosemary-infused syrup. Sometimes I’ll toss in a couple berries for color and a little extra flavor.

Instructions

• Place rosemary and lemon juice in the shaker.
• Muddle well to release the oils and flavors.
• Add gin and simple syrup.
• Fill shaker with ice cubes.
• Shake hard for about 15 seconds.
• Strain mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
• Garnish with a rosemary sprig and, if using, a couple of fresh berries.

Don’t skimp on muddling the rosemary—that’s where all that signature scent and taste comes from. Shaking with ice gets everything nice and cold.

Straining keeps the drink smooth, no one wants a mouthful of leaves. Top it off with a rosemary sprig, and maybe a berry or two, just because.

Notes

Rosemary’s pretty fragrant, so I stick with a small sprig or two unless I’m really craving that herbal punch.

For rosemary simple syrup, I just simmer equal parts water and sugar with a few sprigs of rosemary, cool, then strain. It’ll keep in the fridge for about a week.

Fresh lemon juice is key—bottled juice just doesn’t have the same pop. Sometimes I’ll add berries for a sweeter, fruitier spin, but that’s totally up to you.

Best to drink this one right after you make it, while it’s still icy and the rosemary aroma is at its freshest.

Tasting Notes

When I first sip a Rosemary Gin Smash, the freshness really jumps out at me. The gin brings a crisp edge, but then that rosemary—wow, it adds this earthy, herbal vibe that’s hard to miss.

It’s honestly so refreshing, never too heavy or cloying. There’s a good balance going on between the citrus and those herbal notes.

I can definitely taste the lemon juice—it gives the drink a tangy, slightly sour kick. The simple syrup is there too, just sweet enough to round things out without turning it into a sugar bomb.

The smell hits you right away—rosemary, almost pine-like, and honestly pretty inviting. When I actually taste it, everything seems to blend together in a way that’s smooth but interesting.

Sometimes there’s this gentle, warming feel from the gin itself. The ice chills everything down and sort of softens the flavors a bit.

Drinking a Rosemary Gin Smash just feels so crisp and light. For me, it’s the perfect mix of tart, sweet, and herbal—can’t really ask for more in a glass.