The Whiskey Smash Is The Citrusy Summer Cooler You Need To Try

If you’re an adventurous drinker, you’re probably up for trying all kinds of new alcohol recipes in the spirit of finding a new favorite (or just something you really enjoy). Whiskey drinkers are likely already familiar with drinks like whiskey sours and Manhattans, but have you ever tried a whiskey smash? If not, now’s the time — the recipe couldn’t be simpler.

  1. The whiskey smash dates back to the 19th century. The first mention of the concoction (and the recipe to make it) was in 1887 in The Bar-Tender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas. In other words, it’s been around for a long time and it’s just as classic now as it was back then.
  2. The recipe only calls for four ingredients. And if you’re a whiskey lover, you probably already have three of the four. All you need is lemon, mint leaves and a mint sprig, whiskey/bourbon (obviously), and simple syrup. It really is that simple. The muddled lemons are the addition of Dale DeGroff, a legendary bartender at the Rainbow Room in New York.
  3. You’ll be ready to drink it in just a few minutes. As per the whiskey smash recipe instructions, once you muddle the lemon wedges in a shaker, you add the remaining ingredients and ice and shake like crazy. Pour it into a glass over ice, throw a mint sprig on as garnish, and enjoy.
  4. It’s perfect for summer. While whiskey is a warming drink that often seems better suited to colder seasons, the addition of lemon and mint in the whiskey smash recipe makes it deliciously cooling and perfectly suited to summer. Imagine how refreshing it would be to sip on one of these as you enjoy the long, sunshine-filled days ahead?
  5. Even whiskey haters love the whiskey smash. That’s probably because the whiskey isn’t the overriding taste in the recipe. Instead, it all comes together to create a delicious concoction that’s definitely worth trying.
Piper Ryan is a NYC-based writer and matchmaker who works to bring millennials who are sick of dating apps and the bar scene together in an organic and efficient way. To date, she's paired up more than 120 couples, many of whom have gone on to get married. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, Time Out New York, The Cut, and many more.

In addition to runnnig her own business, Piper is passionate about charity work, advocating for vulnerable women and children in her local area and across the country. She is currently working on her first book, a non-fiction collection of stories focusing on female empowerment.
close-link
close-link
close-link
close-link