Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

4.67 from 3 votes

Nov 06, 2016, Updated Jan 05, 2024

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The Blackberry Bourbon Smash is the whiskey drinker’s Mojito. I use the same recipe as my Blackberry Mojitoand substitute bourbon for rum. This Whiskey Smashis crisp, refreshing, and versatile enough for any time of year.

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (2)

Bourbon, lime, mint, blackberry, simple syrup, and a splash of club soda are all you need for this fantastic fruity libation. The most overlooked part of this cocktail is the final fizzy soda addition at the end. Club soda adds effervescence and also smooths the cocktail’s edges.

My goal for this cocktail was the highlight the purest flavors of bourbon and blackberry—I opted for club soda in place of anything flavored. I love this cocktail because it’s so balanced and brings so many fresh ingredients to the table. If you’re a fan of the Mint Julep, you will love this drink! Don’t like bourbon? try this cocktail with vodka with my berry vodka smash.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients
  • Cocktail Variations
  • How to Make a Whiskey Smash
  • Expert Tips
  • Best Bourbon for Whiskey Smash
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Fruity Cocktails
  • Blackberry Bourbon Smash Recipe

Ingredients

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (3)
  • Simple syrup: simple syrup (also called simple sugar) is a popular cocktail sweetener made with equal parts sugar and water. It easily dissolves into cocktails, making for easy mixing and even distribution.
  • Club soda: club soda adds a little fizz and helps to balance/extend the cocktail so it’s not so “thick” from all the muddled fruits and herbs. You can also use a splash of water or sparkling water.
  • Lime juice: I always use fresh muddled limes but you can also use 1/2-3/4 ounces lime juice or even fresh lemon.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.

Cocktail Variations

I experimented withseveral variations of the bourbon smash and I’m here to tell you the options are endless. Usually, you have whiskey, soda, a sweetener, acid, fruits, and mint.

A few other options and substitutions:

  • Fresh lemonand lime wedges
  • Honey syrup, simple syrup (sugar), or maple syrup as the sweetener (see Bee’s Knees and Brown Derby next)
  • Experiment with ginger beer or ginger ale, for an earthy, spicy, and sweeter touch
  • Fresh mint or basil as the herbs
  • Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, or raspberries for fruit flavor

How to Make a Whiskey Smash

Step 1.

In a Boston shaker, combine mint leaves, lime wedges, simple sugar, and blackberries. Muddle until pulverized.

Step 2.

Add bourbon and a cup of ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (6)

Step 3.

Pour the full contents of the shaker into a double old-fashioned glass (no straining). Top with 1 ounce of club soda. Stir and garnish with mint leaves.

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (7)

Expert Tips

  • Get a muddler: a muddler is a handheld wooden/stainless steel bar tool with a wide flat head on one end. A muddler is used to mash and pulverize fruits and fresh herbs to extract the delicate flavors in cocktails.
  • Don’t strain a Whiskey Smash: shake and transfer all of the fruits and herbs for the best sipping experience.
  • Snapping a sprig of mint leaves on the back of your hand helps to activate the aroma. This is perfect for aromatic garnishes.

Best Bourbon for Whiskey Smash

I love bourbon because there are so many great options out there at the $25-$40 price point. I would choose a lower-tier bourbon for this recipe since it’s going to be heavily flavored and fruited. My evergrowing list of favorite budget-friendly bourbons are:

  • Buffalo Trace
  • Larceny
  • Elijah Craig
  • Michter’s
  • Henry McKenna Single Barrel
  • Four Roses Single Barrel
  • Woodford Reserve
  • Eagle Rare
  • Knob Creek
  • Maker’s Mark
Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (8)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any type of whiskey?

Bourbon is best because it’s slightly sweeter than rye whiskey. You can use rye or Canadian whiskey in a pinch.

What is the difference between Whiskey Sour and Whiskey Smash?

The Whiskey Sour is made with bourbon, lemon juice (no wedges), and egg white. It’s a frothy cocktail with no solids.

Why is it called a Whiskey Smash?

The Whiskey Smash earned its name from the muddled/smashed fresh fruits and herbs present in the cocktail.

More Fruity Cocktails

Berry Vodka Smash Recipe

Mojito Recipe

Strawberry Tequila Cocktail Recipe

Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & areview in the comments!

4.67 from 3 votes

Blackberry Bourbon Smash Recipe

By: Shawn Williams

Servings: 1 cocktail

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Save

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (13)

A bourbon smash made with fresh lime, fresh mint leaves, blackberries, and simple sugar.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1/2 ounce lime juice, or 2 lime wedges, squeezed
  • 6-7 mint leaves, muddled
  • 2-3 blackberries, muddled
  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup, 1 tablespoon of sugar will do
  • 1 ounce club soda
  • Cup of ice

Instructions

  • In a Boston shaker, combine mint leaves, lime wedges, simple sugar, and blackberries. Muddle until pulverized.

  • Add bourbon and a cup of ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

  • Pour the full contents of the shaker into a double old-fashioned glass (no straining). Top with 1 ounce of club soda. Stir and garnish with mint leaves.

Notes

Club soda can be substituted with ginger ale or ginger beer for additional flavor.

Snapping a sprig of mint leaves on the back of your hand helps to activate the aroma. This is perfect for aromatic garnishes.

Get a muddler: a muddler is a handheld wooden/stainless steel bar tool with a wide flat head on one end. A muddler is used to mash and pulverize fruits and fresh herbs to extract the delicate flavors in cocktails.

Don’t strain a Whiskey Smash: shake and transfer all of the fruits and herbs for the best sipping experience.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 0.1gSodium: 22mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Cocktail

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Blackberry Bourbon Smash (Whiskey Smash Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is a good mixer for blackberry whiskey? ›

Blackberries and lemon juice give the Orange Blackberry Whiskey Sour a subtle bite, while orange juice adds a bit of sweetness that compliments the notes of oak and spice in Bird Dog Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Muddle blackberries, simple syrup, and bitters in the bottom of a shaker.

What is the difference between bourbon smash and bourbon sour? ›

Blend your ingredients and add a fresh mint sprig to bring out the appealing aromas. The Whiskey Smash differs from a whiskey sour because it uses whole lemon wedges rather than lemon juice.

What is blackberry bourbon? ›

Our Blackberry Whiskey is a blend of bourbon whiskey and aged light whiskey, blended with sun-ripened blackberries, then bottled at 84 proof. The result is a small batch blackberry whiskey displaying distinctive hints of blackberry jam, caramel and vanilla beans.

What is the difference between 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.

What flavor goes best with blackberry? ›

Blackberry: Pairs well with almond, apple, apricot, black pepper, blueberry, cinnamon, citrus, clove, ginger, hazelnut, lemon, mango, mint, peach, plum, orange, raspberry, strawberry, and vanilla. It mixes very well with berry liqueurs, brandy, Champagne, orange liqueurs, port wine, and red wines such as merlot.

What not to mix with whiskey? ›

The fats in dairy can coat your palate and interfere with the flavors of the whiskey. It's best to savor them separately and avoid mixing them together.

Is Jack Daniel's bourbon or sour mash? ›

Using a bit of starter is why Jack Daniel's is called a sour mash. The mash ferments for a full six days before being single distilled in a large copper still made to our exact specifications. And rather than double or triple-distillation, we vaporize and condense our whiskey only once.

What is the best bourbon for Whisky sour? ›

Old Grand-Dad 114. Old Grand-Dad 114p Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a powerhouse bourbon that elevates any cocktail, especially the classic Whiskey Sour. Its robust flavor and higher proof bring depth and complexity, enhancing the drink with rich notes of caramel, oak, and spice.

Is Jim Beam a sour mash bourbon? ›

Begin with a mix of corn (at least 51%), rye and malted barley. We like to call it our “mash bill.” This feeds into a 10,000-gallon cooker where we add some “setback” (a bit of old mash from our last distillation) for consistency and transform our mash into “sour mash.”

What makes a smash cocktail? ›

Though there are often more variables these days—sometimes the ice is crushed, sometimes shaved, sometimes the fruit is added to the drink, sometimes it's just a garnish—the basic elements remain consistent: a spirit base, ice, sometimes a splash of water, mint (or other herb), sugar, and the ever-present seasonal ...

What to mix crown blackberry with? ›

ROYAL BLACKBERRY LEMONADE
  • Fill glass with crushed ice.
  • Add whisky and lemonade.
  • Stir gently.
  • Garnish with slice of lemon and blackberry (optional).

Who invented the Whiskey Smash? ›

The Whiskey Smash has been making imbibers happy for a very long time, some 200 years now. Most credit its invention to 19th century legendary barkeep Jerry Thomas.

What bourbon do they drink at the Kentucky Derby? ›

Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon for the Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby because of its bold, oaky, and fruity flavors that pair well with the mint. Bourbon specifically is used because it is sweeter than other types of whiskeys made with different grains.

What's the difference between Whiskey Smash and whiskey sour? ›

The main difference comes from how the lemon is added: only juice is used for the whiskey sour, and the lemon is muddled for the whiskey smash, along with a sprig of fresh mint. With a whiskey sour, the ingredients are shaken, which aerates and chills the drink.

What is good to mix with blackberry crown royal whiskey? ›

We've got the ingredients for summer: fresh berries, lemonade, and Crown Royal Blackberry. Easy enough. Fill glass with crushed ice. Add whisky and lemonade.

What are people mixing with blackberry crown? ›

What is the best mix for Blackberry Crown Royal? One and a half ounces of Crown Royal Blackberry. Blackberry flavored whiskey. 6 ounce of lemonade with a fresh lemon and blackberry.

What do you mix black cherry whiskey with? ›

Ingredients
  1. ¼ cup whiskey.
  2. 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice.
  3. 2 tablespoons Black Cherry Frozen Drink Mix.
  4. Ice cubes.
  5. 1 cup sparkling water.
  6. Lemon slices or wedges, for garnish, if desired.

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