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Vodka Smash
Posted: July 22, 2026
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About
The Vodka Smash is a fresh, herbal, vibrantly minty cocktail that brings together muddled mint, lemon juice, simple syrup, and vodka into one of the most refreshing drinks in the cocktail canon. Inspired by the Whiskey Smash — itself a variation on the Old-fashioned-era style of spirit-citrus-sugar cocktails — the Vodka Smash swaps whiskey for vodka, letting the mint and lemon dominate completely. The muddled mint releases its essential oils directly into the drink, coating it with an herbaceous, almost cooling quality that makes each sip feel extraordinarily fresh. It is a summer cocktail in its purest form: bright, herbaceous, ice-cold, and completely irresistible.
Instructions
- Place mint leaves in a cocktail shaker and add simple syrup.
- Muddle gently — press the mint leaves 4–5 times to release their oils without tearing or shredding them.
- Add vodka and fresh lemon juice to the shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 12 seconds.
- Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer into a rocks glass filled with ice to remove mint fragments.
- Garnish with a fresh mint sprig — slap it gently between your palms before placing it to release the aroma.