Cocktail recipe: Gin with strawberries, balsamic vinegar and black pepper

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.