Your perfect summer bourbon cocktail is here, and it's a tasty one! With its bright lemon and fresh mint, this blueberry bourbon smash is one refreshing sipper for those warm patio nights.
When most people think of bourbon, they imagine cozy cocktails made for chilly weather. And I get it. My apple cider old fashioned and chai-cranberry bourbon smash are perfect for those occasions.
But just because the summer months hit doesn't mean we have to abandon our favorite liquor. With those sweet, caramel-like notes in bourbon, it's actually perfect with all sorts of fruit. If a fruity cocktail doesn't scream summer, I don't know what does.
Enter this blueberry bourbon cocktail. Summer's juicy, plump blueberries give this bourbon cocktail a seasonal twist that makes it perfect for even the hottest nights. If you gravitate toward bourbon only when a chill hits the air, take one sip of this fresh blueberry cocktail, and I guarantee you'll reach for this delicious liquor all year long.
Related: For more favorite bourbon cocktails, try my classic Boston sour and blackberry smash.
Ingredients
Before we start mixing, let's chat ingredients. To make this blueberry bourbon smash, we need bourbon, simple syrup, fresh blueberries, fresh mint, lemon juice and an optional club soda topping.
Don't like bourbon? Feel free to use vodka, rum or tequila. All three make for delicious alternatives.
Heck, don't feel like you have to stop there with your customizations. Get creative and substitute basil, thyme or rosemary for mint. Go half and half with blueberries and raspberries, or try ginger beer or ginger ale rather than club soda for a spice kick.
That's what I love about cocktail making. Once you have the right proportion of ingredients, you can make all sorts of substitutions for your own unique sipper. That said, this cocktail is seriously delicious as written, so you can't go wrong sticking to the recipe either.
*Wink, wink*
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that we’ve settled on our ingredients, let’s start mixing! We throw our fresh blueberries, lemon and mint into a cocktail shaker and muddle until the berries and lemon break down. If you enjoy making cocktails at home, a muddler is worth the purchase, but a sturdy wooden spoon can also take care of the job.
Once our muddled ingredients are nice and juicy, we add our simple syrup, bourbon and ice and give it a good shake. We now replace the shaker top with a cocktail strainer, which ensures our muddled berries and lemon don’t get in the way, and pour into ice-filled glasses.
I love garnishing this blueberry cocktail with a fresh mint sprig, but before you do, place it in the palm of your hand and quickly clap your other hand on top. This releases that minty fragrance for an even more delightful drinking experience.
And that’s it! Just like that, we’re ready to sip this night away.
Perfect Pairing
This fresh blueberry cocktail and my mixed berry-custard pie make the perfect match. The caramelized bourbon notes go together with the graham cracker crust while we get berries upon berries for a perfect cocktail and dessert harmony.
When only a refreshing cocktail made with seasonal fruit will do, I hope you try this blueberry bourbon smash.
Cheers!
Looking for More Summer Cocktails?
- Strawberry-mint bourbon smash (by the Casual Foodist)
- Italian margarita
- Coconut-watermelon mojito
- Strawberry mint julep
- Cherry bourbon smash
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📖 Recipe
Blueberry Bourbon Smash
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or jar with solid lid
- Muddler
- Jigger or small measuring cup
- Citrus juicer
Ingredients
- ½ lemon cut into wedges
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 8-10 mint leaves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce simple syrup homemade or store-bought
- Ice
- Club soda for topping, optional
- Mint sprig for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Add the lemon wedges and blueberries to a cocktail shaker and place the mint leaves on top. Muddle until the blueberries and lemon wedges break down.
- Pour in the bourbon and simple syrup and add in a handful of ice. Put the top on and shake until cold, about 15-30 seconds.
- Replace the cocktail shaker top with a cocktail strainer and pour into ice-filled glasses. If desired, top with club soda and gently stir. Place a mint sprig in the palm of your hand and quickly clap the sprig with your other hand to release its fragrance and garnish. Enjoy!
Notes
- If making your own simple syrup, add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Allow to cool. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several weeks.
- The club soda gives it more of a spritzer feel if you want something light and bubbly for the summer, but for a strong blueberry and bourbon flavor, skip the club soda.
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Jeri says
I made this lovely cocktail when I had some friends over for a visit and we all loved it! They asked me to make it again the next time they come! So yummy!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Yay! Very happy to hear it was a hit!
Michael DiMaggio says
This bourbon smash was such a hit with our family! I made it for a birthday event and all of us adults loved it!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
That's awesome! Sounds like a good time.
Jean says
I like how I can make this for friends, it looks fancy and delicious. Thanks for sharing tasty summer drinks.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're welcome! There's nothing like a refreshing summer cocktail!
Lilly says
I made this using tequila and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
So glad the substitute worked for you!
Kellee Wightman says
Can you make this ahead for a crowd?
Sounds amazing!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Hi, Kelle! You certainly can. There are two options. One is to make it mojito style where you just put all the ingredients in a pitcher, muddle them in the pitcher, add the bourbon and simple syrup, refrigerate and then stir in the club soda (figure about 1 ounce per drink) right before serving to ensure it stays nice and bubbly. This style works well if you don't mind fresh fruit bits. The other option is to muddle everything in a bowl and then press and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl if you don't want any fruit bits. You can pour that strained puree into a pitcher, add the bourbon and simple syrup, refrigerate and then add the club soda before serving. When I batch, I figure about one mint sprig per drink rather than counting leaves, and I'd recommend making it ahead no more than 24 hours because the lemon will start to lose its brightness. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Sara Welch says
Love a sweet cocktail with a kick and this was no exception! Definitely going to be enjoying this all summer long and beyond!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Sounds like you have a fun summer ahead!
AISilva says
I always love your different drinks! We don't normally have bourbon in the house, but this drink sounds so good I'm going to get some this weekend. Looking forward to trying it and letting you know how it goes. Thank you!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you so much! I hope you love it!
Katia says
OMG I made this during the heat wave, they are so deliciously addictive and refreshing! we are making these again for our next dinner party garanteeeeed!!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I hope you do! I'm sure it will be a hit.