Easy Gin Spritz with Lemon and Jam
This gin spritz is light, bubbly, citrusy and just sweet enough, with fresh basil and a spoonful of jam adding fruity flavor without the need for homemade simple syrup. Shake everything together, pour it over ice and top with Prosecco or sparkling water. This is the refreshing summer cocktail to make when you’re in need of a drink and only have five minutes to make it.
Happy hour called.
They’ve got a lovely little gin spritz for you to try.
Light, refreshing, a little fruity, a little herbaceous, this has been my drink for the summer months!
I used to think I didn’t like gin. But now I think it’s my favorite spirit. So, if you haven’t tried gin in a while… it might be worth a re-try. Especially when it’s in a simple citrusy cocktail like this one!
One thing about me is that I love a cute cocktail moment, but I don’t have a huge shelf with a hundred different liqueurs and syrups and mixers, ya know? So I need something fun, but still simple.
A couple spoonfuls of jam, squeeze of lemon, handful of fresh herbs and splash of good-quality gin? That’s all ya need, folks.
Enjoy!
What You’ll Need to Make This Gin Spritz Cocktail:
- I use 100% pure lemon juice that’s not from concentrate. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is perfect too, just a little more work for ya.
- Strawberry, raspberry or blackberry jam all work beautifully here. It acts as both the fruit flavor and sweetener, so I recommend a lower-sugar variety to keep the cocktail from getting too sweet.
- Fresh basil adds that herby flavor that turns this gin cocktail more into a gin smash. Mint leaves would be delicious if you don’t have basil. Rosemary or thyme could also work, but use a smaller amount since their flavor is stronger.
- Use a good-quality gin you enjoy drinking. Empress is my favorite, and the elderflower kind is especially tasty in this recipe. If you’re using a classic dry gin and want another layer of flavor, add a small splash of citrus or elderflower liqueur.
- Carbonation: I top mine off with a rosé Prosecco (the one from Costco is my go-to and such a good deal), but champagne would work too if you wanna be fancy. For a lighter gin spritzer, use your favorite sparkling water or club soda.
How to Make this Gin Basil Smash:
Add the lemon juice, jam, basil leaves and gin to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler or the back of a spoon to gently smash the basil leaves and help the jam dissolve.
Note: You don’t need to completely crush the basil. Just press it enough to release its flavor into the gin.
Add a handful of ice to the shaker, cover and shake well until the mixture is cold.
Fill a large wine glass or highball glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail mixture into the glass. Top with Prosecco or soda water.
Garnish with berries, lemon slices, fresh basil or a sprig of mint.
Expert Tips for the Best Gin Spritz:
- Start with the amount of jam listed, then taste and adjust from there. Different brands vary in sweetness, so you may want a little more fresh lemon juice (or lime juice) to balance it out.
- Gently muddle the basil rather than shredding it into tiny pieces. Smashing the leaves releases the flavor without making the cocktail taste bitter.
- Shake the gin mixture before adding the Prosecco. Carbonated ingredients should always be added directly to the glass rather than shaken in the cocktail shaker.
- Serve it right away so the bubbles stay crisp and fizzy.
Now take it outside and enjoy every sip of this effervescent cocktail.
FAQs
Totally get it, I used to feel the same way. This cocktail is a great one to test the waters with since the basil and fruit really soften the botanical flavor.
But if gin is still a hard no, vodka would be the easiest swap. White rum or tequila blanco would be tasty too.
Yes! For 8 servings, combine ½ cup lemon juice, 1 cup fruit jam, a very large handful of basil leaves and 1½ cups gin in a large pitcher. Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash the basil and help dissolve the jam. Stir well, then refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes so the basil can infuse. Strain out the basil leaves before serving, if desired. Pour the mixture into glasses filled with ice, then top each one with 3 ounces of Prosecco or sparkling water.
You could swap the gin for a zero-proof gin alternative and use sparkling water instead of prosecco for a mocktail version.
If you try and like this recipe, please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! For more lifestyle, behind-the-scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content, come find me over on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, or Youtube – I love connecting with you all there!
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Easy Gin Spritz with Lemon and Jam
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: N/A
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This easy gin spritz combines lemon, fruity jam and fresh basil, then gets topped with Prosecco. It’s a fresh, summery twist on a classic cocktail that takes just 5 minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lower sugar strawberry, raspberry or blackberry jam
- 10 basil leaves
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3 oz prosecco (or sparkling water)
Instructions
- Add ½ oz lemon juice, 2 tablespoons jam, 10 basil leaves and 1 ½ oz gin to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler or the back of a spoon to smash up the basil leaves and infuse the gin with herby flavor. Add some ice and give it a good shake.
- Pour into a glass with ice. Top with 3oz prosecco or sparkling water. Garnish with fresh fruit, lemon slices or more fresh herbs.
Ahhhh. So refreshing.
Notes
Pitcher instructions: For an 8-serving pitcher, combine 4 ounces (½ cup) lemon juice, 1 cup strawberry, raspberry, or blackberry jam, an extra large handful basil leaves, and 12 ounces (1½ cups) gin in a large pitcher. Use a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash the basil and help dissolve the jam. Stir well, then refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes to let the basil infuse. If desired, strain out the basil leaves before serving. To serve, pour several ounces into glasses with ice and top each with 3oz of Prosecco or sparkling water.Â
My favorite gin is Empress – the elderflower kind is especially good here!
Refer to above blog post for step-by-step photos, ingredient information and answers to frequently asked questions.
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 208
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 0.8 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 17.8 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
