Whiskey Smash
Happy Friday! I made you a drink.
This is the whiskey lover’s alternative to a mojito. And it comes with a really fun name – Whiskey Smash!
This cocktail is lemony and bright but balanced by a brown sugar simple syrup and bourbon. The mint flavor is subtle. Shake everything up and the drink turns a cloudy light brown that looks so pretty with a sprig of mint. A lemon twist would be nice. That is if I knew how to make one. I’ll get back to you on that.
whiskey smash
If you don’t have a muddler, use a the handle of a wooden spoon. To make simple syrup, heat 2 parts sugar to 1 part water in a small saucepan until it just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir until sugar dissolves, and let the syrup cool and thicken before using.
1 lemon, quartered
7 medium or large mint leaves
1 ounce simple syrup made with brown sugar
2 ounces bourbon
Muddle 3 of the lemon quarters in the bottom of a cocktail shaker (about 10 or so strong muddles). Add mint leaves and muddle a few more times. Add the bourbon and simple syrup. Fill shaker with at least six ice cubes and shake for about 15 seconds.
Strain into a glass with (one big cube of) ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Rub some of those leaves gently for a more aromatic drink.
Serves 1. Adapted from There Will Be Bourbon.
For a second, when I read your title…I though of smashed potatoes that have been cooked in a whiskey broth! I think, I’m too hungry…need to get out of work and go home. But then I saw a cocktail, and you have no idea how happy that makes me!
Weekends are made for cocktails, aren’t they?!
Yes! I hope you get a chance to try it this weekend. And thank you for reminding me that I need to make some crispy smashed potatoes soon!
Yum! I love whiskey but have never tried making simple syrup with brown sugar for a whiskey cocktail. I’ll definitely have to try this!
It’s good! Brown sugar has that more molasses-y flavor, you know, which goes well with the bourbon.
Ooh, sounds perfect for an early summer evening! I love it.
Yes! It was so refreshing yesterday when it was still bright and hot at 6 p.m. It already feels like summer around here.
haha! Do you use a wooden spoon as a muddler? Mine is a tiny wooden rolling pin that was originally for making fondant decorations.
I’m making one of these as soon as I get home. I’m going to need it.
I have a muddler now, but before that I used a wooden spoon. I kind of miss that because I liked the idea of being resourceful. I want to see a picture of this tiny rolling pin.
Hope you like this drink and your Friday gets better!