If you spent any time in a college dorm, then calling a drink a smash may seem a little on the nose. But actually, smash cocktails have been around since long before you headed off to college. They get their name from the act of smashing something (herbs or fruit) and mixing it with booze, and they're delicious. Our blackberry bourbon smash is a delightful combo of whiskey and fruit. Whether it smashes you is entirely up to you.
How to Make a Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Blackberries, bourbon, and mint make a sweet, biting, botanical drink reminiscent of the mint julep, only fruitier. It's a great combo that we love in a drink.
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh blackberries
- 5-7 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ½ freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Mint sprig and blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries and mint leaves with a splash of simple syrup.
- Add ice, bourbon, lime juice, and the remaining simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour into a rocks glass; do not strain.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and blackberries.
Variations of the Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Just like there's more than one way to muddle and shake a mojito, there are plenty of unique and easy ways to make a smash.
- Swap the mint leaves for fresh basil or rosemary to change up the herbaceous flavors.
- Bourbon and rye have distinct profiles. Bourbon will create a softer blackberry smash, but rye will craft a smash with a firmer, sharper bite.
- Use a flavored simple syrup, such as lemon, vanilla, cinnamon, or honey.
- Skip the club soda for a more concentrated flavor of bourbon and blackberry.
- A jammy blackberry-infused bourbon creates an even more intense and refreshing flavor and is something you can easily make at home.
- Build your drink in a rocks glass to make it quick and easy.
- Put it in the blender with some ice and make a summertime bourbon slush.
Garnishes for the Blackberry Smash
The blackberry smash is already quite colorful and abundant with ingredients, so you can always allow the drink itself to be the garnish, or consider a few of these ideas as you complete the look of your perfect smash.
- If you opt for basil or rosemary instead of mint, add a fresh sprig of either as a garnish.
- Add a citrus touch with a lime wheel, wedge, or slice.
- Give it a funky look by using a dehydrated lime wheel. You can also use a lemon or orange.
- A lime ribbon or peel adds a pop of color without any added citrus flavors.
Muddling Your Way to Goodness
Don't fall prey to the idea that a muddled cocktail takes up a ton of time and effort when, in truth, you can even make it all in one glass. Indulge yourself in a juicy blackberry cocktail and watch your worries melt away.
