two glasses of drinks made with a bourbon cocktail recipe with strawberries

Meet the Strawberry Bourbon Smash! This is the perfect bourbon cocktail recipe to toast to summer: It’s fruity, colorful, and requires almost no effort to make.

overhead view of a bourbon cocktail with strawberries

We all know that in summer, we’re not in the mood to mess around with any fussy recipes. It’s hot and we just want to enjoy our evening (or afternoon) cocktail without spending tons of time on it. This one is easy: All you need are some fresh strawberries, a little sugar, lime juice, bourbon, and strawberry soda.

a wooden spoon mixes strawberries in a measuring cup

Muddle the strawberries gently–no need for special equipment! I don’t have much in the way of bartending tools, and I certainly don’t own a “muddler,” but I’m still able to make cocktails with normal kitchen items! Just use a glass measuring cup and a wooden spoon, and gently muddle those berries to release their juices–voila! Add a little lime juice, then bourbon, stir it all together, then stir in the strawberry soda.

two glasses of a strawberry bourbon cocktail on a tray and table

Fill a couple of glasses with ice, pour your drinks over, and garnish your glass with a fresh strawberry or some mint leaves! Now stand back and admire the beautiful color of these cocktails (wow)! It’s a fun, simple cocktail and the perfect way to celebrate summer. Check out the recipe ahead! Cheers, friends!

Did you try this bourbon cocktail recipe? Tell us your thoughts in the comments–and shop Summer Fashion to look stylish while you sip!

This recipe comes from our food contributor, Stephanie Simmons, of Blue Bowl. Her goal with her kitchen-tested recipes is to get you excited about cooking, show you how good food can taste, and prove that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to make a good meal.

  • PREP TIME: 10 MINS
  • SERVES: 2
  • bourbon cocktail
  • bourbon cocktail summer

Ingredients

  • 1-2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 6 strawberries + 2 for garnish
  • 1 Tbsp lime juice
  • 4 oz bourbon
  • 2 bottles Strawberry soda, chilled

Directions

Step 1:

Cut the tops off your strawberries and slice them. Add to a 2-cup glass measuring cup with the sugar, and gently muddle with a wooden spoon.

Step 2:

Pour in the lime juice and bourbon with the strawberries. Stir everything together.

Step 3:

Pour in the strawberry soda and give it a stir. Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish the rims with fresh strawberries or mint leaves. Enjoy!