How to Make a Whiskey Smash

Skill Level

Average

Taste

Sour & Herb

Preparation Time

5 Minutes

Glass Type

Rocks Glass

Ingredients

Parts ml

1 ½ Parts Bourbon

45 ml Bourbon
¾ Parts Lemon Juice

25 ml Lemon Juice
¾ Parts Simple Syrup

25 ml Simple Syrup
10 Whole Mint Leaves

10 Whole Mint Leaves
1 Sprig Mint

1 Sprig Mint
Ice Cubes

Ice Cubes

Number of Servings

The Whiskey Smash is a cocktail that dates back to the late 19th century and belongs to the smash family of cocktails. It’s also known as a Bourbon Smash, depending, of course, on whether you use bourbon as your choice of whiskey.

It shares similarity to the Whiskey Sour in that both drinks use bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup. However, the Whiskey Smash omits the egg white, aromatic bitters and cherry garnish, opting instead for mint leaves and a mint sprig garnish.

Let’s smash this!

How To Make A WHISKEY SMASH COCKTAIL

Bar tools you’ll need

Jigger

Boston Shaker

Knife

Citrus Elbow

Hawthorne Strainer

How to Mix

Fill the smaller tin of a Boston Shaker with Ice Cubes.
Measure and pour Whiskey into the smaller tin of the Shaker using a Jigger.
Cut a Lemon in half and use a Citrus Elbow to extract the juice into the Jigger, then pour the Lemon Juice into your Shaker.
Measure and pour Simple Syrup into the Shaker.
Grab 8-10 Mint Leaves, give them a gentle slap, and add them to the Shaker.
Assemble the Boston Shaker and shake vigorously.
Fill a Rocks Glass with Ice Cubes.
Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the Shaker and strain the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
Garnish with a Mint Sprig.

WATCH THIS VIDEO ON HOW TO MIX WHISKEY SMASH

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What is a Whiskey Smash Cocktail?

A Whiskey Smash is a shaken cocktail made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and garnished with a mint sprig.

What does a Whiskey Smash Taste Like?

The flavor of mint really takes center stage here, and pairs wonderfully with the smooth oak and caramel flavors from the bourbon, and the acidity of lemon juice, all combining to create a perfect summer sipper.

The History of the Whiskey Smash Cocktail

One of the earliest examples of a Smash cocktail appeared in a cocktail book in the 1840s, although the name ‘smash’ wasn’t used at the time. It wasn’t until the late 1880s that the term was coined to describe how to make the Whiskey Smash.

However, it was the Mint Julep, allegedly first mentioned in 1770, that paved the way for the Smash. Originally a stirred drink with Fresh Mint, the Smash differentiates itself from the Mint Julep by muddling and often shaking the ingredients, as in the case of the Whiskey Smash.

Its popularity has come and gone throughout the years but it has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.

Tips for Making the Perfect Whiskey Smash

Sweeten your drink to your liking
If you’d like your drink to be sweeter, add a little more Simple Syrup. On the other hand, if your drink is too sweet, increase the Lemon Juice or reduce the Simple Syrup.
Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
Yes, the bottled Lemon Juice you find at your local supermarket might be quicker and more convenient but the difference to your Whiskey Smash when you use Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice is like night and day.

Variations of a Whiskey Smash

Experiment with different Whiskies

The flavor profile of your drink will depend on the type of Whiskey used. Bourbon is the most common choice for a Whiskey Smash, but experimenting with different whiskies can create unique and varied flavor characteristics.

For example, I made a Whiskey Smash using Canadian Rye Whiskey, and it was very smooth, soft with deliciously warm Caramel and Vanilla notes.

Learn more about the different Whiskey types here.

Muddle Lemon Wedges

Although our preferred recipe uses Fresh Lemon Juice and shakes all the ingredients together, another popular option is to muddle Lemon Wedges in the Cocktail Shaker, then add Simple Syrup, Whiskey, and Ice, shake well, and double strain the cocktail into the Glass.

Check out our article on how to muddle cocktails.

For more Smashes, be sure to explore our collection of Smash Cocktails.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Whiskey Smash

We recommend serving the Whiskey Smash in a Rocks Glass filled with Ice Cubes. To garnish, we recommend a Mint Sprig. Another very popular option is to garnish the drink with a Lemon Wedge in addition to the Mint Sprig.

WHISKEY SMASH FAQ

What’s the difference between a Whiskey Smash and a Whiskey Sour?

While similar to a Whiskey Sour, the Whiskey Smash differs in key ways: the Whiskey Sour uses Egg White or Aquafaba for a creamy, foamy top and is garnished with a Lemon Wedge, and made without Mint.

In contrast, the Whiskey Smash is served over Ice, includes Fresh Mint, and is garnished with a sprig of Mint.