strawberry rhubarb bourbon smash (with chocolate mint!)

It’s national bourbon day!!!  let’s celebrate!!

I jumped on the bourbon bandwagon by accident, hoping not to fall off the wagon. ha!! actually it was by desperation.  it happened one day when I was in dire need of a cocktail and simply had absolutely nothing to drink.  not even a spare can of beer that rolled to the back of my fridge.  For me not to have any alcohol on hand is just pure baloney.  the only thing I did have was a bottle of bourbon I bought for a kentucky derby chocolate bourbon pie I made for valentine’s day.  yes, it was as good as it sounds and I will have to share the recipe some day. having only needed a 1/4 cup or so for the pie I still had a good bit left.  I figured I would just mix it with some cola and feel like an old man and drink it.  what’s ironic is that bourbon is becoming the “it” drink.  there’s like a whole bourbon revolution going on.  it has it’s own day now for goodness sake.  I’m sorry but it always reminded me of an old man’s drink.  or the drink of a seasoned drinker. if you know what I mean.  trust me when I say that as a bartender people just do not come into my bar asking what kind of bourbon I have.  the young kids aren’t afraid to ask for a jack and coke but they never ask for a beam and coke.  only the older crowd  drinks bourbon.  now i’m old.  or should I say what’s old is new again or is it like high waisted jeans that I wore and looked like hell in and refuse to wear now that they are back  in style.  whatever.  bourbon is cool now .  and I like me some bourbon.  who knew.  then I heard of a drink called a bourbon smash.  it’s a cross between a whisky sour and a mojito.  I’m like oh wow! I like whiskey sours! I like mojitos!  and now I like bourbon!!

a regular bourbon smash has regular simple syrup in it.  I decided to add a flavored simple syrup instead.  this time of year is rhubarb season and strawberry season and my infamous strawberry rhubarb pie won 3rd place at the local county fair a few years ago. so this strawberry rhubarb syrup smells like the pie and it is heavenly.  and like the pineapple mint in my summer in a glass I also grow chocolate mint every year and holy hallelujah does it smell divine.  you can use regular mint as well but the chocolate mint adds a certain depth to the taste that mixes perfectly with the bourbon.  kind of like the kentucky bourbon chocolate pie..

strawberry rhubarb bourbon smash

2 oz bourbon

1 1/2 oz strawberry rhubarb simple syrup

2 lemon slices

3-4 sprigs chocolate mint

in a cocktail shaker, muddle lemon slices and chocolate mint.  add ice, bourbon, and simple syrup.  shake, shake, shake it up, and pour into to a glass.  serves 1.  so refreshing!!!

strawberry rhubarb simple syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

4 strawberries, quartered

1 stalk rhubarb, sliced into 1 inch pieces

combine sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.  add strawberries and rhubarb and let simmer about 10-15 minutes until it thickens,  strain and let it cool.  cover and keep refrigerated.

happy national bourbon day!  which is also flag day!! coincidence???