A Bartender's Unconventional Take on a Whiskey Smash

A smash is a cocktail made with crushed or shaved ice, fruit, sweetener, a base spirit, and some sort of herb. The Whiskey Smash is the brainchild of Jerry Thomas, the patron saint of modern bartending, who published the recipe in his first book back in 1887. James Beard award-winning barman Dale DeGroff tipped off modern tipplers to the joys of the Whiskey Smash when he extolled the virtues of the drink in his 2008 best-seller, The Essential Cocktail. A cross between a Mint Julep and a Whiskey Sour, the Smash is a gateway drink—a light, refreshing entrée into the wonderful world of whiskey-based potables.

For another modern take on the classic, Shae Minnillo, a bartender at Manolito in New Orleans, favors raspberry and basil. "The cocktail term 'smash' itself implies a sort of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, anything-goes attitude. Tart berries and herbal, savory elements have ways of enhancing each other, especially when boosted by spirits," Manolito says. "Ideally, this combo would pair with dinner or dessert, or serve as its own mid course."