Strawberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail with Fresh Basil

Cheers to the summer season with this Strawberry Bourbon Smash!

The slight sweetness of strawberries pairs beautifully with the fresh basil and of course, bourbon.

It’s the perfect cocktail to sip on a warm summer day!

My Peach Whiskey Smash Cocktail is a favourite summer drink so I wanted to shake things up by using another seasonal fruit.  The strawberry flavor from the fresh berries comes through beautifully in this warm weather drink.

If you love bourbon cocktails, this cocktail recipe is for you!

Why you’ll love this strawberry bourbon cocktail

• It’s easy to make!
• You need just 5 ingredients to make this tasty drink.
• This recipe uses fresh, seasonal ingredients that are easy to find.
• Make this strawberry basil bourbon smash in just 5 minutes!

Ingredients needed for this strawberry cocktail

Bourbon whiskey: the bourbon whiskey you use will have a great deal to do with how this cocktail tastes so be sure to choose one that you enjoy. See below for some of my favorite bourbon recommendations.

Strawberries: fresh sliced strawberries are the key ingredient in this cocktail! I like to use fairly ripe strawberries as they will smash the best.

Honey: when muddled with the strawberries, it brings out their natural sweetness

Fresh basil: fresh basil leaves are muddles with the strawberries to elevate the flavour of this cocktail

Sparkling water: I like to top this drink with splash of sparkling water to bring it all together.

How to make this strawberry bourbon smash

Step 1: To a rocks glass (low cocktail glass) add fresh strawberry slices, honey and fresh basil leaves.  Muddle well to break down the strawberry slices and basil leaves, you want the strawberries to be almost liquid.

Step 2: Pour the bourbon into the glass and add a handful of ice (cubed or smashed ice) and stir for 10-20 seconds.

Step 3: Top the cocktail with a splash (1-2 oz) of sparkling water if desired. Cheers and enjoy!

Expert tips

• When muddling, you want to press the ingredients in the cocktail shaker against the side and bottom of the shaker to break them down gently. The goal is to release the flavours from the ingredients. You want press and twist when muddling versus trying to break the ingredients down into a paste.
• You can switch things up and make this cocktail with fresh mint instead of fresh basil. It will be reminiscent of a mint julep if you use mint instead of basil.
• If you don’t have sparkling water you can use a splash of club soda or tonic.
• Instead of honey you could use simple syrup.

Common questions

What type of bourbon should I use in this strawberry bourbon smash cocktail?
The bourbon whiskey you use will have a great deal to do with how this cocktail tastes. Bulleit is my personal favourite bourbon for this strawberry bourbon smash. Some other favourite’s to try are Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve. Whichever bourbon you choose, make sure you enjoy it in other drinks too.

Can I make this into a non-alcoholic drink?
YES! For a non-alcoholic peach whiskey cocktail use a zero-proof spirit like Ritual Whiskey Alternative or Spiritless Kentucky 74 in place of the bourbon whiskey. Just follow the same instructions to make the cocktail with the zero-proof spirit.

What can I use to muddle the fresh strawberries?
You can use the bottom of a simple wooden spoon; you don’t need anything fancy at all to muddle strawberries with the basil.

How to store this drink

This cocktail is best enjoyed when made fresh and it’s truly a great way to celebrate strawberry season on a hot summer day!

More fruity cocktails to enjoy from the blog

The Best Rhubarb French 75 Cocktail Recipe

Peach Basil Wine Spritzer (White Wine)

Strawberry Lemonade Rosé Punch