I just mixed a Hot Honey Strawberry Bourbon Smash and I’m warning you now it’s the kind of sweet, spicy, smoky drink that makes you rethink dessert.

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I can’t stop thinking about the Hot Honey Strawberry Bourbon Smash and why I love it so much. I adore how the Hot Honey Bourbon Cocktail name tells you it’s both sweet and dangerous.

I get obsessed with bright strawberries smashed into a glass and bourbon that smells like caramel and trouble. And that tiny sting of hot honey makes me sit up and actually pay attention.

It feels lively, not precious. Definitely a drink for when I want something with attitude and a little mess.

I crave it in summer, after work, before anything important. I’m ordering another one.

Ingredients

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Bourbon, warm oak and caramel notes, it’s the cozy boozy backbone.
Plus, strawberries, bright and jammy, add fresh sweetness and a little tart pop.
Lemon juice, sharp citrus zing, wakes it up and keeps it bright.
Hot honey syrup brings spice and sticky heat, sweet with a pleasant kick.
Mint leaves, aromatic and cooling, cut the heat and freshen each sip.
Crushed ice chills fast and thins the drink, keeps it refreshingly slushy.
Club soda, if you add it, you’ll get lift and extra fizzy texture.
Lemon wheel or strawberry garnish, a pretty touch that smells nice and signals flavor.

Ingredient Quantities

2 oz bourbon

3 to 4 medium strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 to 3/4 oz hot honey syrup (equal parts hot honey and warm water, more or less to taste)

6 to 8 fresh mint leaves

Crushed ice enough to fill the glass

1 to 2 oz club soda to top, optional

Lemon wheel or strawberry for garnish, optional

How to Make this

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1. Make the hot honey syrup by stirring equal parts hot honey and warm water until smooth, taste and add more or less honey to suit your spice tolerance.

2. Hull and roughly chop 3 to 4 strawberries, pick 6 to 8 mint leaves and toss both into a shaker or sturdy glass.

3. Add 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice and 1/2 to 3/4 oz hot honey syrup on top of the fruit and mint.

4. Gently muddle the strawberries and mint just enough to release juices and aroma, dont pulverize them or the mint will turn bitter.

5. Pour in 2 oz bourbon, add a handful of ice to cool things down and give it a quick swirl to combine.

6. Fill the shaker with ice, cap it and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds until the outside feels frosty.

7. Pack a rocks glass with crushed ice, then double strain the cocktail over the ice to keep most seeds and pulp out, but a little fruit is nice.

8. Top with 1 to 2 oz club soda if you want a bit of fizz, gently stir once or twice to lift flavors.

9. Garnish with a lemon wheel or a whole strawberry and a small mint sprig, and serve with a short straw so the flavors hit you good on the first sip.

Equipment Needed

1. Cocktail shaker (or a sturdy jar with a lid)
2. Muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon if you gotta improvise)
3. Jigger or small measuring spoons (for the lemon, syrup and bourbon)
4. Citrus juicer or reamer (fresh lemon juice is key)
5. Fine mesh strainer (for double straining to keep seeds out)
6. Knife and cutting board (for hulling and chopping strawberries and slicing the lemon)
7. Rocks glass plus a short straw and a garnish pick or toothpick
8. Ice crusher or a bag and mallet to crush ice, plus a spoon for stirring

FAQ

Q: Can I make the hot honey syrup ahead of time? A: Yes, totally. Mix equal parts hot honey and warm water, store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Warm it a bit before using if it thickens.

Q: How spicy will this be? A: That depends on the hot honey you use and how much syrup you add. Start with 1/2 oz if you want mild heat, go to 3/4 oz for a stronger kick. You can always add more, not less.

Q: Can I substitute bourbon with something else? A: Sure. Rye gives a spicier edge, dark rum makes it sweeter and richer, and a nonalcoholic whiskey style works if you want a sober version. Flavor will change, but it still works.

Q: Do I need to muddle the strawberries and mint hard? A: No. Just a few gentle mashes to release juices and oils. Overmuddling the mint will make it bitter, so be gentle, you want aroma not a green soup.

Q: Should I use crushed ice or cubes? A: Crushed ice chills and dilutes faster, which is great for this smash. Big cubes work too if you want less dilution and a slower melt. Either is fine.

Q: Can I batch this for a party? A: Yep. Muddle strawberries and mint with lemon and hot honey syrup in a pitcher, stir in bourbon, keep chilled. Add crushed ice and club soda in individual glasses so it stays fizzy and fresh.

Hot Honey Strawberry Bourbon Smash Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Bourbon: swap for rye whiskey for a spicier kick, or use aged rum if you want it sweeter and rounder.
Strawberries: use raspberries or muddled cherries when strawberries arent in season, or frozen strawberries thawed work fine.
Hot honey syrup: mix regular honey syrup with a pinch of cayenne or hot sauce, or use chili infused agave for a smoother heat.
Mint leaves: try fresh basil for a peppery, aromatic twist, or use a few cucumber slices for a cool, fresh note instead.

Pro Tips

1. Make the hot honey syrup ahead and chill it. It mixes easier when it’s mostly cool, and having it ready means you can taste and tweak the heat without rushing. If it seems too strong, dilute with a little more warm water before cooling.

2. Muddle very gently, and only once or twice. Press enough to bruise the strawberries and mint so they give up juice and aroma, but dont mash them to pulp or the mint will go bitter and the drink gets grassy.

3. Double strain into crushed ice to keep seeds and big bits out, but leave some tiny fruit pieces for texture. Use a fine mesh strainer over your shaker then a quick pass through a hawthorne or small sieve into the glass.

4. Taste and balance at the end. If lemon is overpowering add a splash more syrup, if it’s too sweet add a squeeze more lemon or a little extra bourbon. For extra freshness, slap a mint sprig between your palms before garnishing so it smells bright when you sip.

Hot Honey Strawberry Bourbon Smash Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I just mixed a Hot Honey Strawberry Bourbon Smash and I’m warning you now it’s the kind of sweet, spicy, smoky drink that makes you rethink dessert.

Servings

servings

Calories

175

kcal

Equipment: 1. Cocktail shaker (or a sturdy jar with a lid)
2. Muddler (or the handle of a wooden spoon if you gotta improvise)
3. Jigger or small measuring spoons (for the lemon, syrup and bourbon)
4. Citrus juicer or reamer (fresh lemon juice is key)
5. Fine mesh strainer (for double straining to keep seeds out)
6. Knife and cutting board (for hulling and chopping strawberries and slicing the lemon)
7. Rocks glass plus a short straw and a garnish pick or toothpick
8. Ice crusher or a bag and mallet to crush ice, plus a spoon for stirring

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
3 to 4 medium strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 to 3/4 oz hot honey syrup (equal parts hot honey and warm water, more or less to taste)
6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice enough to fill the glass
1 to 2 oz club soda to top, optional
Lemon wheel or strawberry for garnish, optional

Directions

Make the hot honey syrup by stirring equal parts hot honey and warm water until smooth, taste and add more or less honey to suit your spice tolerance.
Hull and roughly chop 3 to 4 strawberries, pick 6 to 8 mint leaves and toss both into a shaker or sturdy glass.
Add 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice and 1/2 to 3/4 oz hot honey syrup on top of the fruit and mint.
Gently muddle the strawberries and mint just enough to release juices and aroma, dont pulverize them or the mint will turn bitter.
Pour in 2 oz bourbon, add a handful of ice to cool things down and give it a quick swirl to combine.
Fill the shaker with ice, cap it and shake hard for about 10 to 12 seconds until the outside feels frosty.
Pack a rocks glass with crushed ice, then double strain the cocktail over the ice to keep most seeds and pulp out, but a little fruit is nice.
Top with 1 to 2 oz club soda if you want a bit of fizz, gently stir once or twice to lift flavors.
Garnish with a lemon wheel or a whole strawberry and a small mint sprig, and serve with a short straw so the flavors hit you good on the first sip.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.