My favourite after-work drink in... Hamburg

The harbour is Hamburg’s gateway to the world, but the Alster is the heart of the city. Almost every day, I jog around the Alster — it helps me to organize my thoughts and focus on the most important business decisions. On a normal day, I’m in the office until around 7 p.m. Then, I enjoy going for a drink near the Alster, and there are several great locations. If I want the best view, you’ll find me in the roof-top bar of The Fontenay at the Außenalster drinking a bold red wine — what a fantastic skyline!

However, one of the most popular drinks around here is served in Le Lion, a bar just down the street from the offices of DIE ZEIT, near the Alster. It’s best to book a table, as the bar room is small and cosy. A year after it opened, Le Lion got an award as “World’s best new cocktail bar” — and their Gin Basil Smash, a drink created in Hamburg in 2008, has become a modern classic that is popular around the world.

The drink is refreshing and looks great, because the basil makes it a cool green. After my Smash, I’m ready for a fantastic evening with everything Hamburg has to offer.

Gin Basil Smash

• 6 cl gin
• 3 cl fresh lemon juice
• 2 cl sugar syrup
• a handful of fresh basil leaves and a handful of ice

—

1. Smash the basil leaves and stems with a pestle in a cocktail shaker
2. Add the lemon juice, then the sugar syrup, then the gin, then the ice cubes
3. Shake long and hard
4. Add fresh ice cubes to a glass
5. Pour through a fine sieve into the glass and garnish with basil leaves