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Matthew Sherwood/The Globe and Mail
Popular in the 19th century, the Smash is more of a genre of drinks (as opposed to a specific recipe) and can be made with just about any spirit, seasonal fruit and sweetener, so long as it's served over plenty of crushed ice.
This time of year, gin combined with local strawberries, balsamic vinegar and black pepper is just the ticket.
Black Pepper Smash
Three fresh strawberries
Half an ounce of lemon juice
Half-ounce each of balsamic vinegar and black pepper syrup*
Two ounces of gin together in a mixing glass
Ice
Spritz of soda
Sprig of basil for garnish
Black pepper syrup
1/2 cup each of roughly crushed black peppercorns, sugar and water
Method
Muddle three fresh strawberries, a half-ounce of lemon juice, a half-ounce each of balsamic vinegar and black pepper syrup* and two ounces of gin together in a mixing glass.
Add ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice and top with a spritz of soda.
Garnish with a sprig of basil.
*For black pepper syrup, heat ingredients to just under a boil, stir, leave to infuse and cool for half an hour and strain.