A Summer Whisky Cocktail: The Whisky Smash

Do you drink whisky? do you have a dad who drinks whisky? If so the whisky smash is an excellent cocktail for this time of year. A flavour combination dating back to the 1800’s that is still spoken of and written about today is clearly a timeless combination worthy of a read.

When talking of the whisky smash it must be mentioned that this cocktail has been credited with the creation of the entire smash genre of drinks. Dates get a little sketchy however Jerry Thomas is credited with its creation somewhere between the mid to late 1800’s. The vast window in time is due to how the drink came to be documented. In 1862 Jerry wrote a book and had the humble origins of what we now know as a whisky smash listed as a julep. Later in 1888 Henry Johnson wrote about the whisky smash, as a whisky smash, with an entire section of his book dedicated to smashes.

The drink of the week is an instant summer success for anyone who enjoys the flavour of a good whisky. The wood-soaked punch of whisky combined with the jolt of citrus from the lemon juice works in stark contrast with the cooling effects of mint and the sheer volume of shaved ice, or water, included in this cocktail. If you have never tried a whisky smash imagine a watered down whisky sour with a hint of mint.

Ingredients

¼ oz. lemon juice

¾ oz. simple syrup

2 oz. whisky

5 fresh mint leaves

Crushed ice

Ice cubes

Directions:

Muddle mint leaves in the bottom of a glass or tin

Add syrup, lemon juice, whisky and ice cubes to container. Cover and shake.

Fill rocks glass half full with crushed ice, double strain cocktail into glass.

Garnish with a mint sprig, and serve.

Whether you will be sitting around the backyard, or out on the town this Fathers day, a cold and refreshing whiskey smash could be exactly what you or your dad may be looking to order in an effort to beat the heat. A great balance of flavours between the heat of whisky, the sourness of the rye and the cooling mint all topped off with as much ice or water as can fit in the glass will ensure an enjoyable beverage for all who partake. This week we salute to the old standby, and relatively revitalized spirit that is whisky.