I know, you only drink bourbon straight up or on the rocks, but just try this...
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This is a classic drink with a shitload of variations, so naturally it was ripe for my experimentation. The classic Whiskey Smash is basically just a Mint Julep with lemon to give it a hint of sour, and other variations with cherries are more like a variation on a Whiskey Sour. My version is kind of a combination of all of the above made by taking the best ideas from recipes I looked up online with my own addition of Luxardo maraschino liqueur, which is one of my newest favorite discoveries. The best part of this recipe is that it can be either sour or sweet depending on your taste – just leave out the Disaronno if you like it more sour or add it if you like it sweet. It’s a fun drink for late fall/early winter.
2 oz. bourbon
½ oz. Luxardo maraschino liqueur
½ oz. Disaronno or amaretto
½ oz. lemon simple syrup
dash of aromatic bitters
½ fresh lemon
4-6 leaves fresh mint
fresh mint sprig and lemon wedge for garnish
Muddle the lemon in a shaker vigorously to release the oils from the skin. Then add in the mint leaves and muddle gently. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wedge. Add maraschino cherries if you want to look like a dumbass cliché…