Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash
Summer is prime time for fresh watermelon in the South. I’ll admit, watermelon has never been my favorite fruit, but I love using it in drinks and cocktails, like this super refreshing Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash!
My mint plants have been going absolutely wild this year, so I’ve been using lots of mint in my drinks and cocktails this summer. It adds a nice natural, herbal, almost zesty sweetness, depending on what kind of mint you use. I have both spearmint and peppermint, so I use whichever one needs more trimming at the time.
What is a Whiskey Smash cocktail?
The whiskey smash is one of the most approachable (and delicious) whiskey cocktails. It’s actually one of the first whiskey cocktails I learned how to drink, way back when. It’s a cousin of the mint julep and whiskey sour, involving mint and fruit (usually citrus) muddled together, and mixed with whiskey and sugar. They can be served with fruit chunks and mint right in the glass, or strained from a cocktail shaker for a smoother drink. I prefer my drinks smooth with minimal fruit chunks, so mine will be muddled, shaken, and strained.
However you prefer to drink it, the whiskey smash is a really easy-going cocktail that would be a great introduction to new whiskey drinkers, or whiskey explorers. And it’s a great cocktail for highlighting that sweet summer watermelon.
Fun fact: whiskey smashes were the first ever cocktails I posted on the blog, several years ago. Maybe I’ll revisit and reshoot them in the near future. They probably need a facelift.
This cocktail doesn’t need a lot of added sugar, since watermelon is naturally sweet. A half-ounce of simple syrup will be plenty to balance the whiskey and lime. You can, of course, reduce it to a quarter-ounce if you like it even less sweet, or increase the amount of lime. The salt rim on the glass also helps balance the sweetness, as a nod to the popular sprinkle of salt on watermelon wedges.
How to Make a Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash
First, you will need:
- Fresh watermelon
- Fresh mint
- Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water ratio)
- Salt
- Lime, cut into wedges
- Whiskey
- Soda or sparkling water
First, make your simple syrup, if you don’t already have some made. Add equal parts sugar and water to a small saucepan, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a simmer, then cut the heat and let the syrup cool before using. I usually keep a bottle of plain simple syrup in my fridge.
Prepare your glass. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your selected glass, and dip the rim in coarse salt. Fill glass with ice and set aside.
Muddle mint and lime wedges. Drop 8-10 mint leaves and 3-4 lime wedges into your cocktail shaker and muddle to release the lime juice.
Add remaining ingredients and shake. Add watermelon chunks, simple syrup, whiskey, and ice. Shake until the shaker is chilled, about 10 seconds.
Strain and serve! Double strain your cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a mint bouquet and/or small watermelon slice.
I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t wait to make another Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash this weekend! It’ll be perfectly refreshing for the warm weather and sunshine we’re expecting. If you like this recipe, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more just like it!
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Watermelon Mint Whiskey Smash
Ingredients
- 3-4 watermelon chunks
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- 3 lime wedges
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz whiskey
- Soda or sparkling water to top
- Salt to rim
Instructions
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, and dip the rim in coarse salt.
- Add mint leaves, simple syrup, and lime wedges to a cocktail shaker or jar. Muddle to release the lime juice and combine.
- Add watermelon chunks and whiskey.
- Add ice and shake until chilled, about 10 seconds.
- Fill glass with ice, and double strain the cocktail into the glass.
- Garnish with mint bouquet and enjoy!
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March 18, 2024 @ 6:17 am
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