From the Old Fashioned and hot toddy to the Black Manhattan and whiskey highball, whiskey cocktails can appeal to a broad spectrum of drinkers. Whiskey tends to bring warming flavors, like vanilla, smoke, baking spices and oak, which is why it’s often associated with wintertime beverages. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also pair beautifully with lighter, refreshing ingredients for the summer, like mint and lemon. The whiskey smash is a great example of the latter—a perfect whiskey cocktail to cool off even the hottest of days.
“A whiskey smash is a refreshing and citrusy cocktail,” says Nicholas Perdue, beverage and entertainment director at Tzeva in Sarasota, Florida. “It is a classic summertime drink known for its muddled mint and the combination of sweet, tart and herbal flavors.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the whiskey smash and how to make your own at home.
What Is a Whiskey Smash?
A whiskey smash is a cocktail made with whiskey (most often bourbon), fresh lemon juice, muddled mint leaves and simple syrup, says Perdue. The name comes from “smashing” the ingredients—aka muddling—and shaking before straining over crushed ice in a rocks glass, adds Joel Lee Kulp, owner and general manager of The Richardson in Brooklyn, New York.
The whiskey creates a smooth and sweet foundation, while mint brings herbaceous and refreshing notes, Perdue explains. Lemon juice adds tartness to balance the sweetness of the simple syrup.
Whiskey cocktail connoisseurs may find this sounds a little familiar. In fact, the whiskey smash borrows some of its flavors from other favorite whiskey cocktails. You essentially get a whiskey smash “if you take the best part of a mint julep and a whisky sour and smash it together,” says Jorge Centeno, chief spirits officer at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois. He describes the beverage as “a light, fresh, crisp and minty concoction that is very refreshing and easy to drink.”
However, Aom Lee, director of food and beverage at the Four Seasons San Francisco at Embarcadero, says the whiskey smash is more citrus-forward than a mint julep, and therefore arguably a better introduction to whiskey cocktails. “There’s sweetness, citrus and mint. It’s refreshing and easier to drink [than a mint julep],” she says.
History of the Whiskey Smash Cocktail
The whiskey smash dates to the 19th century U.S., Perdue says, but nobody knows exactly where it came from. It appears in Jerry Thomas Bartenders Guide, which was published in 1887, but Lee notes that it resurged in popularity during the classic cocktail movement of the early 2000s. Today, it’s again quite popular.
You can find many variations on the drink, which incorporate additional ingredients like blueberry, peach and other fruit, Kulp says. “The beauty of the smash is you can make it whatever you want it to be.”
Whiskey Smash Recipe
Recipe by Jacy Topps
Ingredients
- 5 mint leaves
- 3 lemon wedges
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces whiskey (preferably bourbon)
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions
In a cocktail shaker, add the mint and lemon. Muddle to extract the juices and oils, for about 20 seconds. Add simple syrup and whiskey and fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a large rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint sprig.
FAQs
How Do You Drink a Whiskey Smash?
Drink the cocktail in a Collins glass or in a rocks glass with crushed ice. Always garnish with a mint sprig, Lee says.
What Is the Difference Between a Mint Julep and Whiskey Smash?
“People can get confused between the whiskey smash and the mint julep,” Lee says. “[The mint julep] is very spirit-forward, almost like an Old Fashioned. It’s very strong.” She notes that a whiskey smash is similar, but includes a muddled lemon wedge for extra citrus flavor.
Perdue adds that bartenders serve a mint julep in a metal cup, while they generally serve a whiskey smash over crushed ice in a rocks glass.
What Is the Difference Between a Whiskey Sour and a Whiskey Smash?
The key difference between the two is the addition of mint in a whiskey smash. This gives a whiskey smash a “more herbal and aromatic twist compared to the classic whiskey sour,” Perdue says.
Last Updated: September 19, 2023
