Pineapple Whiskey Smash

A traditional whiskey smash combines whiskey with some kind of fresh fruit, usually lemon, and some mint. Using pineapple gives this drink a more tropical vibe, so instead of using mint, I garnished this with some pineapple fronds and added in some tiki-style bitters.

If you're looking for more summery whiskey drinks, try out the Raspberry Peach Bourbon Smash, this easy & delicious Pineapple Whiskey Sour, or the tasty Tropical Whiskey Punch. Or, try out a rum cocktail -- the Mango Mai Tai, a Rum Mango cocktail, or a Sherry and Rum cocktail are all delicious!

Ingredients

To make this drink at home, you'll need to gather the following ingredients:

• Bourbon Whiskey (I used Penelope bourbon, but Maker's Mark bourbon works well too)
• Fresh pineapple
• Fresh lemon
• Salt
• Simple syrup (homemade simple syrup, or store bought)
• Bitters (I used Elemakule Tiki bitters, but Angostura bitters would also work)
• Red Aperitif liqueur (I used Luxardo Aperitivo liqueur, but Campari Aperitivo liqueur is probably the easiest to find)
• Pineapple fronds (optional garnish)

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute if you don't have some of the ingredients on hand.

• Bourbon Whiskey - if you don't have bourbon, you can use rye whiskey, blended whiskey, or an aged rum in this cocktail.
• Fresh pineapple - if you can't find fresh pineapple, just substitute in 1.5 ounces of pineapple juice per drink. Muddle the lemons first before adding in the juice.
• Fresh lemon - you can use lemon juice if you don't have fresh lemons, but you may want to add some lemon bitters if you make this change.
• Simple syrup - you can use maple syrup in place of simple syrup if you don't have any on hand.
• Bitters - if you don't have the Tiki bitters, you can use Angostura bitters, and just sprinkle a little ground cinnamon on top of the drink at the end.
• Red Aperitif liqueur - if you don't have this, you can use the same amount of grenadine instead, or pomegranate juice.
• Garnish - instead of pineapple fronds, you can use a sprig of fresh mint, a wedge of fresh pineapple on the rim of the glass, or a large piece of lemon peel as garnish.

Variations

There are lots of variations on a Whiskey Smash. Give some of these a try for a new spin on this drink!

• Classic Whiskey Smash - omit the pineapple, bitters and aperitivo, and add an extra lemon wedge, fresh mint and a little more simple syrup for a more traditional Whiskey Smash.
• Blackberry Whiskey Smash - try substituting blackberries for the pineapple. You can also change out the bitters and use some lavender bitters for a more floral note, and omit the aperitivo.
• Cherry Whiskey Smash - this is a great variation for fresh cherry season in mid-summer. Use cherries instead of pineapples, and add in a few drops of almond extract instead of the bitters. You can omit the aperitivo, or try adding in Ramazzotti Amaro instead for a more cola-like flavor.

Equipment

The most important bar tool to have on hand for a smash cocktail is a cocktail muddler! I love my muddler from A Bar Above (and you can get 10% off with my discount code, LKDrinks).

Other than the muddler, you'll need a cocktail shaker, cocktail strainer, and a jigger. You'll also need a knife and cutting board to cut up your fruits.

For the serving glass, I've used these Godinger Rocks glasses, but you can use any glass that holds around 10 to 12 ounces (or less if you want to use less ice).

Speaking of ice, these nugget ice trays are perfect if you want to easily make the tiny nugget ice, also known as Sonic ice or pebble ice, as shown in the photos. (If you want to splurge, I definitely recommend the GE Opal nugget ice maker!)

Instructions

To make this drink, start out by adding your fresh fruit to a cocktail shaker. You can also just use a heavy-bottomed cup or glass that won't move around too much as you muddle.

Next, add a pinch of salt to the cocktail shaker, and then start muddling. You want to extract as much juice as possible during your muddle. Using room temperature fruit will help get more of the juice out.

Once you've finished muddling, add in the simple syrup and the bourbon whiskey to the cocktail shaker.

Then, add bitters to your cocktail shaker, and fill it with ice. Seal up the cocktail shaker and give it about 15 to 20 hard shakes.

Fill your serving glass with ice and strain the drink into the glass. You may want to use two strainers, a regular cocktail strainer and a fine mesh strainer, in case you get big chunks of fruit that get past the regular strainer.

Finish off the drink by pouring the red aperitivo liqueur over top of the drink. It will slowly settle to the bottom, creating a subtle layered effect. Then add the pineapple fronds as a garnish, and serve.

Hint: If you have a juicer, you can use that instead of muddling, if you prefer. Just use 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of pineapple juice and 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of lemon juice. Keep in mind that part of the flavor comes from the lemon rind itself, so keep the rind on when you're juicing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Top Tip - Freezing Pineapple Fronds

When you buy a whole pineapple, pluck off the fronds at the top. Give them a good wash, and dry them thoroughly. Then, seal them up in a freezer safe container, and keep them in the freezer until you're ready to use them. This way, you can always have perfectly fresh-looking fronds for all of your tiki drinks!