Whiskey Smash
A citrus and refreshing whiskey cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 20.3% ABV ∙
The Whiskey Smash is a shaken bourbon drink with fresh mint, lemon juice and sugar syrup, served over ice in a rocks glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Fresh mint leaves 8 pcsBourbon 60 mlLemon juice 20 mlSugar syrup 15 ml
- Fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a mint sprig
Tips
- Very sour lemons may need a touch more than 15 ml of sugar syrup, so taste the juice before you pour.
History
The Whiskey Smash belongs to the Smash family, a group of American drinks that drinks historian David Wondrich traces to the mid-1840s, with the style at the height of its popularity through the 1850s. The category is essentially a short, muddled version of the Mint Julep. Jerry Thomas's 1862 guide described it simply as "a julep on a small plan." Bartender Harry Johnson's 1882 manual included an Old Style Whiskey Smash of sugar, water, mint, ice, and whiskey, alongside a more dressed-up Fancy version.
The style faded after the Civil War era and stayed largely dormant for decades. Bartender Dale DeGroff reworked it with lemon, an idea he developed in New York and later formalized as the Whiskey Smash for the 2005 opening of celebrity chef Bobby Flay's Bar Americain. That citrus-forward build became the template most modern Whiskey Smash recipes now follow.
FAQ
What is in a Whiskey Smash?
60 ml bourbon, 20 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup and 8 fresh mint leaves.
How do you make a Whiskey Smash?
Shake fresh mint, bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar syrup hard with ice, then fine-strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Finish with a lemon slice and a mint sprig on top.
What's the difference between a Whiskey Smash and a Whiskey Sour?
A Whiskey Sour is bourbon, lemon juice and sugar syrup with no mint. A Whiskey Smash shakes fresh mint in with the same three, which gives it a cool, herbal edge.
What whiskey works best in a Whiskey Smash?
Bourbon is the standard choice, since its caramel and vanilla sweetness balances the fresh mint and tart lemon well. Rye gives a spicier version.
How strong is a Whiskey Smash?
About 20.3% ABV as served. The lemon, syrup and melted ice from shaking bring it well below a neat pour of bourbon.
