This tamarind bourbon smash is a fun & delicious twist on the classic whiskey smash! It’s made with whiskey, lemons, mint leaves, and simple syrup. In this version we use tamarind syrup instead of simple syrup.
The lemons and mint leaves are muddled to express their juices and natural oils, then shaken with whiskey, tamarind syrup, and lots of ice. It’s very refreshing!
I recently had my very first pop-up at the Japanese-American Cultural & Community Center, and this was the 2nd drink pairing from my 5-course menu. I paired this cocktail with with my Tortas Ahogadas, and it was the perfect drink to balance the spicy salsa-drowned sandwich.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz tamarind syrup
- 3 lemon wedges
- 5 mint leaves
- Ice
- Club soda- this is optional!
What is tamarind?
Tamarind is technically a fruit that is native to Asia and Africa. It grows on trees and produces pods of fruit that are sweet & sour. Tamarind is used across many different cultures for different things, but one of my favorite ways to use it is in drinks!
Tamarind syrup
You can buy tamarind syrup to make this cocktail, but in my opinion they don’t taste very good.
It’s really not difficult to make at home, and it will keep in the fridge for at least 3 months. I make a huge batch every few months for my dad- he loves this stuff and make agua de tamarindo with it.
See my recipe here to make it at home!
More cocktail recipes to try
Tamarind Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz tamarind syrup
- 3 lemon wedges
- 5 mint leaves
- ice
- club soda optional
Instructions
- Muddle the lemon wedges and mint leaves in a shaker until juices and oils are expressed. Add tamarind syrup, bourbon, and ice. Shake vigorously for 5 seconds, then strain over fresh ice. Top with club soda if you want it bubbly.
