Whiskey Smash Cocktail

square photo of the two glasses with the amber drink with mint and lemon

The whiskey smash is a refreshing twist on a classic whiskey cocktail, combining the warmth of whiskey with fresh lemon, mint, and a hint of sweetness. Simple, bold, and incredibly drinkable, it’s a perfect choice for both warm evenings and year-round sipping.

Course Cocktail

Cuisine Cocktails

Keyword whiskey cocktail, whiskey smash

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings cocktails

Calories 228kcal

Author Elaine Benoit

Equipment

Ingredients

20 mint leaves
2 ounce simple syrup
1 lemon (cut into quarters)
4 ounces bourbon whiskey

Garnish

2 lemon wedges
6 mint leaves

Instructions

Get your shaker, muddler (or use the back of a wooden spoon), measuring glass, and glassware.
Add mint and simple syrup to the shaker.
With a muddler, or the back of a wooden spoon, muddle the mint, syrup, and lemon wedges until the mint is very fragrant. It takes about 1 - 2 minutes.
Fish the lemon wedges and most of the mint leaves out of the shaker along with any seeds, and set aside.
Add bourbon and 5 - 8 ice cubes.
Place the lid on the shaker and shake for 10 seconds.
Add fresh ice to the glasses. Strain, divide, and pour the liquid between the two glasses.
Add a lemon quarter to both glasses and float the mint leaves on top of the liquid.
Sip, smile, and enjoy.

Notes

Helpful tips

Always wash your citrus—even if it’s just for garnish. You want to remove any pesticides before juicing or muddling.
To clean citrus, use a textured cloth. Scrub with the rough side under cold water, then rinse. Or use unscented hand soap and a vegetable brush to scrub, then rinse thoroughly.
Or you can: Squirt some natural, unscented hand soap in your hand and scrub the skin between your hands. Next, take a vegetable brush and scrub the skin. Rinse the fruit under cold water.
Use as much mint as you like. I typically use 10–20 sprigs, plus a few extra leaves for garnish.
If you don't own a muddler, you can use the back or handle of a wooden spoon.
After shaking: Discard the muddled lemon wedges and garnish with fresh ones. You can add some of the muddled mint to the glass if you'd like.
Use big ice cubes. Crushed ice melts too quickly and dilutes the drink; larger cubes keep it cold without watering it down.
Go slightly sweet. I use a 2:1 sweet-to-sour ratio for balance. One medium lemon typically yields about 1 oz of juice, but there’s no need to measure—muddling the wedges provides the necessary amount.
I use Crown Royal in this recipe (a nod to my mom’s favorite), but feel free to use your go-to whiskey. Irish whiskey, like Jameson, works great too.
I prefer my double old-fashioned glasses, but a rocks glass is also acceptable.

Nutrition