Whiskey Smash
A bright bourbon sour built on muddled lemon and mint — citrus-forward and refreshing, so batch the spirit-and-syrup base and add fresh lemon and crushed mint to order to keep it lively.
Ingredients
| Bourbon | 2 oz |
| Lemon juice | 0.75 oz |
| Simple syrup | 0.5 oz |
| Total volume | 3.25 oz |
Garnish: Mint sprig and lemon wedge
Tip: change “Make” to scale the recipe, or switch units for the metric world.
How to make it
Shaken · Easy · about 3 minutes
- 1
Add the bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- 2
Shake hard for 10–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker frosts over.
- 3
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- 4
Garnish with mint sprig and lemon wedge.
Tools you'll need
Making a batch for a party?
Here's a pre-calculated batch of 12 with 27% dilution water built in. Scale to any number with the batch calculator →
| Ingredient | × 12 | Bottles |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon | 24.0 oz | 1 |
| Lemon juice | 9.0 oz | 1 |
| Simple syrup | 6.0 oz | 1 |
BatchPour tools produce estimates for planning purposes only. Actual dilution, ABV, and ingredient yields vary by technique, ice temperature, and produce. Always taste and adjust. Drink responsibly.
If you like the Whiskey Smash, try…
Old Fashioned
whiskeyWhiskey, sugar, bitters — the original cocktail, built in the glass.
Whiskey Sour
whiskeyBourbon, lemon, and sweetener — the essential American sour.
Manhattan
whiskeyRye, sweet vermouth, bitters — the stately stirred classic.
Penicillin
whiskeyScotch, lemon, honey-ginger, peaty float — a modern classic.
Whiskey Smash FAQ
What's in a Whiskey Smash?
A classic Whiskey Smash is made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup. It's shaken and served in a rocks glass.
What is the ABV of a Whiskey Smash?
A classic Whiskey Smash is approximately 24.6% ABV — about 1.33 US standard drinks per serving once you account for dilution.
Should I shake or stir a Whiskey Smash?
Shake it. Citrus and other non-spirit ingredients need the aeration and hard chill that shaking gives.
How do I batch Whiskey Smashs for a party?
Scale every ingredient by your guest count, then add about 27% dilution water. The BatchPour batch calculator does the math for any number.