There's nothing quite like a refreshing bourbon smash on a hot day. This drink is perfect for those summer days when you want something a little bit stronger than your average iced tea or lemonade.
There is no need to go out because you can easily make your own delicious Bourbon Smash at home. All you need is some good-quality bourbon, mint, and a few other simple ingredients.
This recipe is for one drink, but you can easily make a pitcher for a group. Just multiply the ingredients as needed.
Along with my lavender martini cocktail, this vodka sunrise cocktail is also perfect for summer sipping!
Ingredient Notes
- Simple Syrup: Try my incredibly easy strawberry simple syrup recipe.
- Mint: Fresh mint is an absolute must for this recipe. You could also use basil instead.
- Lemons: You will definitely want to use fresh lemons for this recipe.
- Bourbon: Be sure to use good-quality bourbon. I highly recommend Kentucky bourbon.
Bourbon Tips
For a Bourbon Smash, since the bourbon is the FOCUS of the cocktail, you'll want to use one that has a well-balanced flavor profile with a smooth finish.
The bourbon should complement the lemon and mint in the cocktail while adding depth and character. Here are a few bourbon recommendations that work well in a Bourbon Smash:
- Maker's Mark: This is my personal favorite. It's a classic choice that offers a mellow and approachable flavor profile, making it a great choice for a smooth and easy-to-drink bourbon smash.
- Woodford Reserve: With its rich and full-bodied taste, Woodford Reserve adds complexity to the cocktail while still maintaining a pleasant sipping experience.
- Bulleit Bourbon: Bulleit has a slightly spicier and bolder profile, which can bring a nice kick to the Bourbon Smash.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: If you're looking for a higher-end option, Four Roses Single Barrel offers a complex and refined taste that elevates the bourbon smash to a more sophisticated level.
- Buffalo Trace: A widely appreciated bourbon with a great balance of sweetness and spice, Buffalo Trace works wonderfully in a variety of cocktails like this one.
How to Make This Bourbon Smash Recipe
- Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain the drink into a glass with ice.
- Garnish the drink with some fresh mint leaves and lemon.
Substitutions and Variations
Mint - you can use fresh basil leaves instead if you do not have any mint on hand.
Simple Syrup - you can make your own by simmering equal parts water and sugar together. Let cool and use! Or make your own Blackberry Simple Syrup or Strawberry Simple Syrup to mix in for a fruitier version!
Lemons - fresh lemons are best. Swap with limes OR change it up and muddle blackberries, cranberries, dates, apricots, apples, strawberries, cherries or even pineapple!
Aleka's Tips
- If you're feeling fancy, you can even garnish your drink with a mint sprig or a lemon wedge. You could also try maraschino cherries or a lemon peel spiral.
- This drink is best served cold, so be sure to have plenty of ice on hand.
- The type of glass you choose is everything. This smash is best served in an old fashioned glass like these lowball glasses.
- For some extra sweetness and flavor, try adding some maple syrup.
- Try using fancy ice cubes to take this drink up a notch.
🍸Looking for some other classic cocktails to try? Give this Paper Plane Cocktail a shot!
FAQ's
What does a Bourbon Smash taste like?
The flavor of a bourbon smash is quite close to a whiskey sour or traditional whiskey smash. The only distinction is that a smash uses the actual lemon and muddles it to extract the juice for a stronger lemon flavor.
What are the differences between whisky and bourbon?
Whiskey is a distilled alcohol that is matured in wooden barrels and created from grains like corn and rye. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, and it is matured in brand-new, charred oak barrels. Both are brown liquors and similar in taste.
Is muddling a better option that shaking?
I found that simply mudding the cocktail will not allow the ingredients to really infuse well. Plus, muddling too much can make your smash bitter.
Other Bourbon Cocktails To Try!
📖 Recipe
Bourbon Smash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon of choice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup (*1 oz for a sweeter cocktail)
- 1 lemon
- 6-7 fresh mint leaves (plus a few for garnish)
Instructions
- Shave off a long lemon rind using a potato peeler and add it to a cocktail shaker along with 6-7 mint leaves, simple syrup, bourbon and about a cup of ice.
- Shake well for about 10 seconds and strain into a whiskey glass with ice.
- Garnish with another lemon rind or wheel and a small bunch of mint leaves. Serve cold!
Recipe Notes
- If you're feeling fancy, use a lemon peel spiral/curl.
- This drink is best served cold, so be sure to have plenty of ice on hand.
- I suggest served in old fashioned glass (aka whiskey glass) like these lowball glasses.
- For a twist on sweetness and flavor, try replacing the simple syrup with maple syrup.
- Use fancy ice cubes, an ice ball or cube to take this drink up a notch.
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