Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: Derby Day Special

Happy Kentucky Derby eve! In honor of the “most exciting two minutes in sports”, and that Kentucky is home to America’s Official Spirit, it’s only right that we drink copious amounts of bourbon this weekend. Since the vast majority of people are sipping mint juleps, I think we should stand out a bit and enjoy a whiskey smash instead.

The whiskey smash recipe comes from the PDT cocktail book. Speaking of PDT, I’ve been there a couple of times. It has become a bit touristy thanks to the boom in speakeasy type bars, which means the wait to get in is usually long, but I would say it’s worth going to once or twice. They do make a tasty beverage. Anyway, on to the recipe:

2 oz. Rittenhouse Bonded Rye Whiskey

3 Lemon wedges

.75 oz Simple syrup

6 Mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish

Muddle the lemon wedges, mint leaves and simple syrup. Add the rye, then shake with ice and fine strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with the mint sprig.

The whiskey smash is essentially a mint julep with some fresh lemon muddled in with the mint. Also, I didn’t use rye. I went with Bulleit bourbon, because that’s what was in my bar. Despite the base spirit substitution, this might be one of my all time favorite cocktails. The whiskey smash is dangerously delicious. This drink goes down smooth, and you can hardly taste the bourbon at all. The sweet lemon mint flavor carries the taste most of the way, with a little hint of some whiskey underneath. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. Having two or three of these in one sitting is very easy. You won’t feel the effects of the bourbon much…until you try and stand up. THEN it hits you. The whiskey smash is a perfect late spring and all summer drink.

Happy weekend everyone. Good luck tomorrow and PRAISE GAMBLOR!

(Banner image found here)