Head to head

Gin Basil Smash vs. Penicillin

Gin Basil Smash and Penicillin 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 Penicillin has Blended Scotch, Islay single malt, honey syrup and fresh ginger. In parts, a Gin Basil Smash is 2¾ gin, 1 lemon and 1 syrup; a Penicillin is 2¾ Scotch, ¼ Scotch, 1 lemon and 1 honey. By volume, the Gin Basil Smash is 57% spirit, 22% syrup and sugar and 21% citrus; the Penicillin is 60% spirit, 20% syrup and sugar and 20% citrus. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Penicillin is the stronger drink in the glass (15.4% ABV against 14.1%) and holds more alcohol (1.53 standard drinks against 1.35). The Penicillin has more calories (about 204 against 191), with about the same sugar (14.4 g and 13.7 g). Both are shaken; the Gin Basil Smash is served in a coupe, the Penicillin 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 Penicillin.

Penicillin

Sours · Scotch

Strength: 15.4%
Std. drinks: 1.53
Calories: 204
Sugar: 13.7 g

2 ozBlended Scotch60 ml
¼ ozIslay single malt7.5 ml
¾ ozLemon juice23 ml
¾ ozHoney syrup23 ml
2–3 slicesFresh ginger

Shaken, served in a rocks glass. About 6 oz (177 ml) in the glass. Garnish: Candied ginger.

The ratio · 2¾ : ¼ : 1 : 1

ScotchScotchLemonHoney

Full Penicillin 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

Gin Basil Smash vs.

Penicillin vs.

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