March 12, 2019

Irish Whiskey Smash

Name: Irish Whiskey Smash
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients: 1 cup water; 1 cup sugar; 8-10 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish, optional; 1 ounce simple syrup (see note); 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges; 2 ounces Irish whiskey; Ice; Club soda, for topping, optional

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St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and we could all use a festive cocktail to celebrate the occasion. Enter this Irish whiskey smash. With its smooth Irish whiskey, tart lemon and bright mint, this cocktail is a refreshing sipper to enjoy on this spring holiday.

Of course, don’t feel like you can only drink this Irish whiskey smash for St. Patrick’s Day. Smashes are one of my favorite types of cocktails, and this recipe works perfectly well year-round. Essentially, a smash is a cocktail that uses a liquor, fruit, herb and sweetener. I’m a sucker for anything with fresh herbs, so a good smash is my perfect kind of drink. All right, it’s time to start mixing.

How to Make Irish Whiskey Smash

Lets begin by gathering our ingredients. We obviously need Irish whiskey along with lemon, fresh mint and simple syrup. If you’d like, you’re also welcome to give it a fizzy topper from club soda, though it’s optional.

While you can buy simple syrup, I like to make my own because it’s incredibly easy. Simply combine equal parts water and sugar and simmer until the sugar dissolves.

Making simple syrup ahead of time is ideal to give it time to cool. That said, I’ve been in a pinch and had to make simple syrup on the spot. Just use plenty of ice in your cocktail shaker, and you’ll be fine.

Now we take said cocktail shaker and a little simple syrup, some mint leaves and half a lemon cut into wedges, and then we muddle. If you enjoy making cocktails, I definitely recommend picking up a muddler, but you can use the blunt end of a large cooking spoon if need be.

From here, we pour in the bourbon, add ice, pop on the top and give it a good shake. Strain into ice-filled glasses and top with a little club soda if you want some fizz. Honestly, it’s delicious both with or without fizz, so you do you. Take a sip and enjoy.

Perfect Pairing for Irish Whiskey Smash

I love pairing whiskey and cheese together. With all the nuances in the different types of whiskey, you can play around with so many pairing options. For Irish whiskey, I love it with Brie and havarti, and I have just the recipe: a Parmesan-crusted Brie and havarti grilled cheese with apricot, avocado and fresh herbs. You can never go wrong with a fancy grilled cheese.

With Irish whiskey and its triple distillation, you generally get a smooth sipper with a touch of vanilla and honey. Both Brie and havarti pair well with sweet flavors, and I love how the nutty havarti works with slight spice of the Irish whiskey. That tart lemon from the smash also helps cut through the rich cheeses for a nice palate cleanser, and the mint is delightful with the herbs and apricot.

If you need a fun St. Patrick’s Day cocktail or just a refreshing sipper any day of the year, I hope you try this Irish whiskey smash. Please let me know how you enjoyed this Irish whiskey smash recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

Could You Use Another Drink? Try These Burrata and Bubbles Recipes.