Gin Smash

Name: Gin Smash Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 oz Carbonated Water; 4 sprig Green Mint; 2 oz Old Mr. Boston Dry Gin; 1 lump Sugar; 1 cube Ice

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The Gin Smash is a light, refreshing gin cocktail built on muddled mint and sugar, topped with carbonated water for a crisp finish. Its simplicity and bright herbaceous character make it ideal for warm-weather entertaining.

🏷️Equipment: old-fashioned glass

Total

5 min

Servings

4

Recipe Source

Visit Mr. Boston Drinks

From Mr. Boston Drinks · by Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide

Ingredients

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5 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Muddle 1 Lump of Sugar with 1 oz.
2
Carbonated Water and 4 Sprigs of Green Mint
3
Boston Dry Gin, then a Cube of Ice.
4
Stir and decorate with a slice of orange and a cherry.
5
Twist lemon peel on top.
6
Use Old Fashioned cocktail glass.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Gently slap the mint sprigs in your palm before muddling to release oils without bruising the leaves, which turns them bitter.
Add the sugar lump and a small amount of carbonated water to create a paste before muddling—this helps dissolve the sugar evenly.
Top with carbonated water last to preserve effervescence; don't stir vigorously after adding it.
Serve immediately after assembly; the drink loses its brightness and carbonation quickly.

Substitutions

Old Mr. Boston Dry Gin → any London Dry gin (Tanqueray, Beefeater) or gin of choice
Carbonated water → soda water or club soda (neutral effect)
Sugar lump → 0.5 tsp superfine sugar or 0.5 oz simple syrup (adjust proportions slightly)

Storage & make-ahead

Serve immediately after making. This drink is not designed for advance preparation or storage.

Equipment

bar spoon or muddler · cocktail glass or highball glass

Common Questions

What's the difference between a Gin Smash and a Mint Julep?

A Gin Smash uses gin and carbonated water, while a Mint Julep uses bourbon and is stirred with ice rather than built fresh. The Gin Smash is lighter and more effervescent.

Can I make a Gin Smash without fresh mint?

Fresh mint is essential to the drink's character—it's muddled to release oils. Mint syrup or extract won't deliver the same bright, herbaceous flavor.