5 Amazing Raspberry Bourbon Smash Tips

Raspberry Bourbon Smash—that’s what we’re talking about today! If you’re looking for a cocktail that tastes like summer vacation bottled up, stay right here. I’m Anna Kowalska, and I share tried-and-true homemade recipes that you and your family will absolutely love. Everything I post here is made with heart and flavor, because life is too short for boring food or drinks!

I’ve been mixing drinks for family cookouts since I was old enough to shake a shaker, and this recipe came out of a need for something refreshing after a long, hot afternoon tending the garden. It’s simple, uses real fruit, and honestly, it’s the easiest way to impress guests. Forget those complicated layered drinks; this is pure, vibrant refreshment built right in the glass.

Crafting the Perfect Raspberry Bourbon Smash

What makes this drink sing is the balance, truly. We aren’t aiming for a syrupy sweet mess here; we want that perfect trio of tart raspberry, bright, zesty lime juice, and the smooth warmth of good bourbon. If you get the ratios slightly wrong, you might end up with something too sour or too boozy, but trust me, once you nail it, this Raspberry Bourbon Smash is going to be your go-to summer sipper.

The secret is muddling just enough to release the fruit juices and mint oils without pulverizing everything into bitter mush. It’s a delicate dance! When it’s done right, the first sip is cool, tangy, and finishes with that lovely little kick from the whiskey and the fizz.

Essential Ingredients for Your Raspberry Bourbon Smash

You only need a handful of things to make this incredible Raspberry Bourbon Smash, which is part of why I love it so much—no confusing liqueurs or specialty syrups required! I always keep these items stocked for impromptu porch sitting nights. Remember, using fresh ingredients here is non-negotiable; that’s where all the flavor comes from!

Here is what you need to gather before you start building your drink:

• 1.5 oz good quality whiskey (I’ll talk more about this below!)
• 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lime juice (Please, please use a real lime, not the bottled stuff!)
• About 1/4 cup of fresh raspberries
• 4 to 5 fresh mint leaves
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of simple syrup (You can always add more later, but you can’t take it out!)
• A heavy splash of club soda or seltzer
• Ice—lots of it!

Whiskey Selection and Measurement

For the whiskey, you definitely want something smooth, not too smoky. Bourbon is my preference because it brings that lovely vanilla and caramel note that pairs so well with the fruit. The standard pour for this recipe is 1.5 ounces. Now, if you know you like a stronger backbone to your drink, my husband always pushes it to 2 ounces, which is perfectly fine if you’re making it just for yourself!

Fresh Produce and Sweeteners for Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Don’t skimp on the fruit! You need about a quarter cup of raspberries. They should be ripe, but not mushy. When you muddle them for this Raspberry Bourbon Smash, you want them to release their juice, not just turn into jam. For the mint, use only the leaves; stems can bring bitterness. And that lime juice? It needs to be freshly squeezed. It cuts through the sweetness of the syrup and the richness of the bourbon beautifully.

The Finishing Touch Club Soda or Seltzer

The fizz is what elevates this from a simple whiskey sour variation into a true smash. You need that light, bubbly lift at the end. I love using Spindrift Raspberry Lime seltzer if I have it, as it echoes the fruit flavor already in the glass. Just a heavy splash is all it takes to lighten the whole drink up!

Equipment Needed for This Raspberry Bourbon Smash

You don’t need a whole bar setup for this drink, which is fantastic! For making a proper Raspberry Bourbon Smash, you really only need three main things. First, you absolutely need a sturdy, heavy-bottomed glass. This is crucial because you’ll be doing some aggressive muddling right in the serving vessel—you don’t want thin glass cracking on you!

Next up is your muddler. If you don’t own one, the handle end of a wooden spoon works in a pinch, but a proper muddler gets the job done much better. Finally, grab a long spoon for mixing everything together before you add the ice and the fizz.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Raspberry Bourbon Smash

This is the fun part, where everything comes together! The method here is called “Muddle and Build,” which means we do most of the hard work right in the glass you’re going to drink out of. It saves on dishes, which, let’s face it, is a huge win on a Friday night!

Follow these steps exactly, and you’ll have the most refreshing Raspberry Bourbon Smash you’ve ever made. Don’t rush the muddling part; that’s where the flavor magic happens!

Step 1 Muddle Fresh Flavors

Take your raspberries and your mint leaves and drop them right into the bottom of that sturdy glass. Now, grab your muddler—or the back of your wooden spoon if you’re improvising. You need to press down firmly and gently twist about four or five times. You want to see the raspberries break open and the mint release its incredible aroma. Stop before you start shredding the mint into tiny pieces; we just want the essential oils, not grassy bits floating around.

Step 2 Combine Liquids and Simple Syrup

Once your fruit and mint are happy, it’s time for the liquids. Pour in your 1.5 ounces of whiskey, the teaspoon of fresh lime juice, and your simple syrup—start with just one teaspoon. Don’t add the ice yet! Use a spoon to stir these ingredients together right there in the glass. You are gently mixing the syrup and the alcohol with the muddled fruit at the bottom to marry those flavors together before we chill everything down.

Step 3 Ice, Fizz, and Final Mix for Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Now, fill that glass almost to the top with ice. Use solid, good-sized cubes if you can. After the ice is in, give it a heavy splash of that cold club soda or seltzer. This is the key to making it a true smash! Give everything one final, gentle stir, making sure you lift some of the fruit and syrup up from the bottom. You don’t want to stir out all the bubbles, so keep it light!

Step 4 Taste, Adjust, and Garnish

Before you serve this gorgeous Raspberry Bourbon Smash, take a small sip! This is your chance to customize it. If it tastes a little too tart or the whiskey is too forward, now is the time to stir in that second teaspoon of simple syrup. Once you’re happy with the sweet-to-tart ratio, garnish it up! Stick a couple of fresh raspberries right on the rim and clap a fresh mint sprig between your hands once before placing it in the drink—that releases a burst of fresh scent right before you take the first sip. Enjoy it right away!

Tips for Expertly Preparing Your Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Making this drink consistently delicious comes down to a few small tricks I’ve learned over the years of making the Raspberry Bourbon Smash for friends. It really isn’t a hard drink, but these little details separate a good cocktail from a great one. Pay attention to the balance, and you’ll never make a bland one again!

Getting the Right Balance of Sweetness

The simple syrup is your safety net here. I always start low—one teaspoon, just like I wrote in the main instructions. If you use very sweet raspberries, you might not need any more. If your raspberries are tart or you’re using a drier bourbon, you might need that second teaspoon. The key is tasting it *after* you add the soda but *before* you serve it. The carbonation dulls flavor slightly, so make sure it tastes perfect to you right then.

Choosing the Best Berries for Your Raspberry Bourbon Smash

When you’re at the store or picking from the garden, look for raspberries that are deep red and plump. Avoid berries that look bruised or are leaking juice in the container—that means they are overripe and might taste fermented or mushy when you muddle them. We want texture and bright flavor! Give them a very gentle rinse right before you use them, but make sure they are patted dry so you don’t water down your drink with excess moisture.

Storing and Serving Your Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Honestly, the Raspberry Bourbon Smash is a drink that demands immediate attention! It’s built right in the glass, and once that club soda hits, the magic starts to fade quickly as the ice melts and the fizz goes flat. So, my number one rule is: make it and drink it right away. Don’t try to batch this up and keep it in the fridge for later!

However, you can certainly prep your components ahead of time! I often make a big jar of simple syrup on Sunday, and I’ll wash and pick my mint leaves. If you have leftover fresh raspberries, they should be stored loosely covered in the fridge—but try to use them within a day or two.

Component Storage Guide

Component	Storage Advice
Simple Syrup	Airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Fresh Mint	Covered loosely (no tight seal) in the fridge.
Unmuddled Raspberries	Refrigerate immediately; use within 48 hours.

Serving Suggestions for This Cocktail

While you can use almost any sturdy tumbler, the presentation really elevates the experience. I love using a heavy, lowball glass, sometimes called an Old Fashioned glass, because it gives you plenty of surface area at the bottom for muddling. If you want to get fancy, serve it in a tall Collins glass filled completely with crushed ice instead of cubes—it makes the drink feel even more refreshing!

Frequently Asked Questions About the Raspberry Bourbon Smash

I get so many great questions about this recipe, and I love hearing how you all are tweaking it for your own tastes! It’s one of those drinks that’s super flexible once you understand the core balance of sweet, sour, and spirit. Here are some of the most common things folks ask when they are trying to perfect their Raspberry Bourbon Smash.

Don’t hesitate to experiment once you’ve mastered the basic instructions. That’s how we come up with new family favorites, right?

Can I make a non-alcoholic version of the Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Oh, absolutely! If you need to skip the booze, you can still get that wonderful fruit and mint profile. For the whiskey replacement in this Raspberry Bourbon Smash, I suggest using a non-alcoholic whiskey alternative if you have one, as they mimic the vanilla and oak notes nicely. If not, just use a little extra lime juice and top it off with a bit more club soda to keep the drink light and bubbly. You might need to increase the simple syrup slightly to compensate for the missing body of the bourbon.

What kind of whiskey works best in a Raspberry Bourbon Smash

When choosing your whiskey, think smooth and approachable. You don’t need to break out the most expensive bottle you own, but you want something that tastes good on its own. I love using a mid-range Kentucky bourbon for that classic caramel background. If you prefer rye, go for it, but be aware that rye brings a spicier, drier note, so you might need to bump up that simple syrup just a touch to balance it out!

Estimated Nutritional Data for One Raspberry Bourbon Smash

Now, I know some of you are watching your macros or just curious about what you’re sipping on! Keep in mind that the nutritional breakdown for this Raspberry Bourbon Smash can change quite a bit depending on how much simple syrup you add or the proof of your whiskey. This is just an estimate based on the standard measurements I use.

Please treat these numbers as a general guideline, especially since the sugar content is highly variable based on your preference for sweetness!

Approximate Nutrition Per Serving

Component	Value
Serving Size	1 cocktail
Calories	Approx. 180-220
Fat	0g
Carbohydrates	Varies based on simple syrup
Protein	Negligible

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