Holland Gin Smash

The Holland Gin Smash is a delightful journey back to the roots of American cocktail-making. It's a close relative of the Mint Julep but made with Holland Gin (Genever), which imparts a unique malty, almost whiskey-like character. The simple combination of genever, sugar, mint, and lemon creates a perfectly balanced and invigorating drink, ideal for warm weather sipping. It showcases how a few quality ingredients can create a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
Holland Gin Smash

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Holland Gin Smash is a classic cocktail from the 19th century. It belongs to the "Smash" family of drinks, which are characterized by muddling fresh herbs (usually mint) with a spirit, sugar, and citrus. It's considered a historical and classic cocktail.

Serving

Serve this moderately alcoholic drink ice-cold in a chilled Old Fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. It is a relatively small cocktail designed for sipping and enjoying the interplay of flavors.
Serving size
Approximately 120-150 ml (4-5 oz)
Alcohol content
Approximately 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Old Fashioned Glass
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

This cocktail is a direct descendant of the early American "Smash" style of drinks. Its recipe was famously codified by Jerry "The Professor" Thomas in his seminal 1862 book, "How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant's Companion". Smashes were a popular category of drinks in the 19th century, known for their refreshing qualities and use of seasonal fruit and herbs. The Holland Gin Smash stands as a testament to the era's drinking culture.
Origin
The Holland Gin Smash originated in the United States during the mid-19th century. Its first known published recipe appears in Jerry Thomas's 1862 bartenders' guide, placing it firmly in the "golden age" of classic American cocktails. It represents one of the earliest defined cocktail recipes.

Holland Gin Smash

The drink is most commonly known as the Holland Gin Smash, referring to its base spirit, which is also called Genever. Consequently, it is sometimes referred to simply as a Genever Smash. The name clearly identifies both the spirit type and the drink style.
Original name
Holland Gin Smash
Alternative name
Genever Smash

Characteristics overview

The Holland Gin Smash has a refreshing, mint-forward aroma and flavor, balanced by bright citrus and the unique malty character of genever. It is a visually appealing pale drink served over crushed ice, perfect for warm seasons.
Flavor
Minty, citrusy, malty, herbal, refreshing, slightly sweet
Aroma
Fresh mint, lemon zest, juniper, grainy malt
Taste balance
Sweet, sour
Aftertaste
Clean, lingering mint, gentle maltiness
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale yellow-green, cloudy from muddling, filled with crushed ice
Texture
Light, crisp, watery (in a good way)
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery, spring

Flavor intensity & Experience

This drink has a moderate flavor intensity, with a well-balanced profile of sweetness and sourness, complemented by a noticeable but not overpowering alcohol presence from the genever. It is entirely still, with no carbonation.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need Genever (Holland Gin) as the base spirit, fresh lemon wedges, fresh mint leaves, and a sweetener like simple syrup or sugar cubes. These ingredients combine to create a classic Smash cocktail.
  • Genever (Holland Gin)60 ml / 2 oz
    Use a quality Oude (old) style Genever for a more pronounced malty flavor, or Jonge (young) for a lighter profile.
  • Simple Syrup (1:1)22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Can be substituted with 2 sugar cubes, as in the original recipes.
  • Lemon Wedges3 wedges
    From about half a lemon. To be muddled in the shaker.
  • Fresh Mint Leaves6-8 leaves
    Use fresh, vibrant mint. More is needed for garnish.

Ice type

  • Crushed

Mixing equipments

To prepare this drink, you'll need a cocktail shaker, a muddler, and a fine-mesh strainer. A jigger is also essential for measuring the ingredients accurately.
  • Cocktail shaker: For shaking and chilling the ingredients.
  • Muddler: For pressing the juice from the lemon and releasing oils from the mint.
  • Fine-mesh strainer: For double-straining to remove small bits of mint and lemon.
  • Jigger or measuring tool: For accurate measurement of liquids.

Instructions

The process involves muddling lemon and mint with syrup in a shaker, adding genever and ice, then shaking until cold. The mixture is then strained into a glass filled with crushed ice and garnished.
1. Chill your Old Fashioned glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, add the lemon wedges and simple syrup. Muddle firmly to extract all the juice.
3. Add the mint leaves to the shaker. Muddle very gently, just enough to release the aromatic oils without bruising the leaves too much.
4. Add the Genever to the shaker. Fill the shaker with cubed ice.
5. Shake vigorously for about 10-12 seconds until well-chilled.
6. Fill your chilled Old Fashioned glass with crushed ice.
7. Double strain the contents of the shaker into the glass over the crushed ice.
8. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and an optional lemon wheel. Serve immediately with a straw.

Garnishing

A generous sprig of fresh mint is the essential garnish, providing a wonderful aroma as you sip. An optional lemon wheel can also be added for an extra touch of color.
  • Mint sprig: Slap the sprig against your hand to release its aroma before placing it in the glass.
  • Lemon wheel: A thin wheel of lemon can be added to the glass for extra visual appeal (optional).

Dietary Information

This cocktail is vegan, vegetarian, and free from caffeine, dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy. However, as Genever is distilled from a grain mash (often including rye, wheat, and barley), it is not considered gluten-free.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This cocktail contains a moderate amount of calories, primarily from the alcohol and sugar. The carbohydrate and sugar content comes almost entirely from the simple syrup.
Calories
Averagely 190-230 kcal / 795-962 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 15-18 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 14-17 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This is a wonderfully refreshing drink, making it perfect for warm-weather occasions like summer afternoons, garden parties, or brunch. Its classic status and sophisticated flavor also make it an excellent choice for a pre-dinner drink or a happy hour special.
  • Summer afternoon
  • Garden party
  • Happy hour
  • Brunch

Pairing suggestions

The crisp and refreshing nature of the Holland Gin Smash pairs well with light and savory foods. It cuts through richness, making it a great companion for fried foods like fried chicken, and complements the freshness of seafood and salads. The herbal notes also work well with fresh cheeses.
  • Oysters or other fresh seafood
  • Light salads with vinaigrette dressing
  • Goat cheese and crackers
  • Fried chicken

Holland Gin Smash: A Refreshing Taste of History

The Holland Gin Smash is a historic and deeply refreshing cocktail that deserves more recognition. It perfectly balances the malty complexity of Genever with the bright, aromatic qualities of fresh mint and lemon. Easy to make yet sophisticated in flavor, it is an ideal drink for warm weather and a fantastic introduction to the Smash category of cocktails. A true classic from the 19th century, it offers a delicious taste of cocktail history.

Similar Cocktails

Whiskey Smash

Uses bourbon or rye whiskey instead of Genever, resulting in a richer, vanilla and oak-forward flavor profile.

Brandy Smash

Features brandy or Cognac as the base spirit, giving the drink a fruity and oaky character.

Mint Julep

A very close cousin, typically made with bourbon, sugar, and mint, but traditionally omits the muddled lemon, making it sweeter and less citrusy.

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