I just got back from visiting my parents, and they’re in the midst of their summertime gardening extravaganza. This means they haven’t realized they’re empty nesters yet, and they still grow enough produce in their garden to feed an entire family of 5 for the length of a zombie apocalypse. Needless to say, I came home with a TON of fresh fruit and veggies. Yes, mama, I’m going to eat them all, but who says I can’t drink some of them too?!
Doing a smash is a great way to use seasonal produce and highlight its best flavors. I’ve included recipes below for two of my favorites that highlight some of my favorite fruit. A smash can be made with any ingredients you like – fresh and in season will always yield a great flavor profile for the cocktail, so see the pro tips for some of my suggestions.
Peach Smash
Prep Time: 5 min
Makes: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 2 OZ BOURBON
- 1 OZ SWEET VERMOUTH
- ¼ OF A RIPE PEACH
- 4 FRESH MINT LEAVES
Directions
Blackberry Sage Smash
Prep Time: 5 min
Makes: 1 serving
Ingredients
- 5 BLACKBERRIES
- 3 SAGE LEAVES
- 1 OZ COCCHI AMERICANO
- 2 OZ VODKA/GIN
Directions
Pro Tips
- Taste your fresh produce before making a smash – the fresh flavor is an integral part of the flavor, and you will need to adjust sweetness to match the ripeness of the fruit (Besides, fruit is good for you!).
- If you want to make these a little less alcohol-forward, you can always top any of these with club soda, ginger beer, or other sparkling water to dilute or brighten the cocktail.
- Smashes can be done with any number of combinations of fruit, herbs, spices, and spirits. Follow the instructions for the smashes above, and add vermouth or triple sec to balance out the sweetness. Don’t be afraid to go wild here, use what you have in season, and get creative! Some of my other favorites are:
- Blueberry, tarragon, and gin
- Strawberry, mint, and vodka
- Clementine, cinnamon, and mezcal
- Raspberry, black pepper, and vodka
- Lime, mint, rum (did someone say Mojito?!)
- Cherry tomato, basil, and vodka (think: lighter bloody mary)
- Black Cherry, lemongrass, rum
- Consider using a sustainably sourced and made bourbon like those made by Bulleit. Bulliet focuses “on reducing carbon emissions, water conservation and waste management during production,” according to Ricky Collett, U.S. and global brand director for Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.
