Head to head

Gin Basil Smash vs. Gold Rush

Gin Basil Smash and Gold Rush side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have lemon juice. Only the Gin Basil Smash has gin, simple syrup and basil; only the Gold Rush has bourbon and rich honey syrup. In parts, a Gin Basil Smash is 2¾ gin, 1 lemon and 1 syrup; a Gold Rush is 2¾ whiskey, 1 lemon and 1 rich honey syrup. By volume, the Gin Basil Smash is 57% spirit, 22% syrup and sugar and 21% citrus; the Gold Rush is 57% spirit, 22% syrup and sugar and 21% citrus. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Gold Rush is the stronger drink in the glass (15.5% ABV against 14.1%) and holds more alcohol (1.52 standard drinks against 1.35). The Gold Rush has more calories (about 227 against 191) and more sugar (20.3 g against 14.4 g). Both are shaken; the Gin Basil Smash is served in a coupe, the Gold Rush in a rocks glass.

Gin Basil Smash

Sours · Gin

Strength: 14.1%
Std. drinks: 1.35
Calories: 191
Sugar: 14.4 g

2 ozGin60 ml
¾ ozLemon juice23 ml
¾ ozSimple syrup23 ml
10 leavesBasil

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 5½ oz (170 ml) in the glass.

The ratio · 2¾ : 1 : 1

GinLemonSyrup

Full Gin Basil Smash recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Gold Rush.

Gold Rush

Sours · Whiskey

Strength: 15.5%
Std. drinks: 1.52
Calories: 227
Sugar: 20.3 g

2 ozBourbon60 ml
¾ ozLemon juice23 ml
¾ ozHoney syrup (3 honey : 1 water)23 ml

Shaken, served in a rocks glass. About 6 oz (174 ml) in the glass.

The ratio · 2¾ : 1 : 1

WhiskeyLemonRich honey syrup

Full Gold Rush recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Gin Basil Smash.

On the ratio map

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

More head to heads

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Gold Rush vs.

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