Thirsty Thursday: Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

This refreshing drink is a combination of strong and sweet. Bourbon makes friends with fresh strawberries, tart lemon, and vibrant mint.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

Welcome to this week’s Thursday Thursday jam session. <— Get it?

As Squirrel would say, I’m hilarious!

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

This week’s cocktail floated right into my head as I entered the produce section of my local grocery store and discovered the pyramid of stacked strawberry containers. The sweet scent swirling around the produce section could not be ignored.

Must. Have. Strawberries.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

I proceeded to buy far too many containers. More containers than any two people could ever eat. You know me, I’m always forgetting about my fruit in the cavernous pit of the fruit drawer. This is where fruit comes to die, folks. Fruit must fear me.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

The strawberries turned soft and began growing fuzz. Not a good sign, but it’s also not the end of the world. I might let fruit wither away, but I never let it go to waste. So, I made jam. Specifically, this Small-Batch Strawberry Jam from Chocolate Moosey. The entire process took me 20 minutes. Not bad for a jam session. And, it’s so stinkin’ good. The best damn jam I’ve ever spooned into my mouth.

Have jam, will smash. This strawberry jam bourbon smash is spring and summer in a glass. It’s super refreshing, sweet with a hint of tart from fresh lemon wedges, and full of fresh mint. If you’re in a foul mood or having a bad day/week, smashing things is always fun.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

They call it a smash for good reason. All of the ingredients get added to a shaker or glass and muddled together just long enough to release the flavor of the herbs and juices from the fruit. In this case, we’re using the muddler to break down fresh strawberries, lemon wedges, and mint. When you muddle mint, it forces the mint to release its natural oils and flavor the drink. It’s the very reason mojitos are so dang tasty.

The addition of the strawberry jam not only sweetens the drink, but the sugars in the jam help break down the other components being muddled. If you don’t own a muddler, no worries, you can still make this smash. Just bust out your trusty wooden spoon and have at it.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

Once all of the ingredients are muddled, add the bourbon and give the mixture a few vigorous shakes. Pour over ice and serve with a mint and strawberry garnish. Because cocktails should always look fancy…even when you drink alone.

Strawberry Jam Bourbon Smash

This refreshing drink is a combination of strong and sweet. Bourbon makes friends with fresh strawberries, tart lemon, and vibrant mint.

Ingredients:

  • 3 strawberries, halved
  • 2 (1-inch) wedges lemon
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • club soda

Directions:

  1. Add strawberries, lemon wedges, mint, and jam to a shaker.
  2. Muddle the ingredients until thoroughly crushed.
  3. Add the bourbon and give the mixture a few vigorous shakes.
  4. Strain the mixture in a mason jar (or glass of choice) containing large cubes of ice. Top with a splash of club soda or seltzer. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a strawberry.
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Want more bourbon? Try these recipes:

Heather Christo- Bourbon Cherry Coke
Foxes Love Lemons- Meyer Lemon Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash
Hungry Couple-Honey Grapefruit Bourbon Smash
Bake Your Day- Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade