Looking for a refreshing cocktail to enjoy on a warm day? The Liberty Lemon Smash might just be the perfect choice—especially if you’re craving bright citrus flavors and a smooth finish.

This simple yet delicious cocktail brings together fresh lemon juice, sugar, mint, and your favorite vodka or gin for a drink that’s both refreshing and uplifting.

The Liberty Lemon Smash takes only minutes to put together, but it really delivers on flavor. It’s versatile enough for casual hangouts or those slightly fancier get-togethers.

The mix of sweet and sour gives it a balanced taste that most people seem to love. Honestly, it’s easy to see why folks add it to their regular home bar lineup after just one try.

Liberty Lemon Smash Cocktail Recipe

This cocktail is all about fresh lemons, mint, and bourbon—summer in a glass, really. The Liberty Lemon Smash nails that tart-sweet balance and throws in a bit of mint for good measure.

John

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Serving Size

Equipment

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice about 1 medium lemon

1/2 oz simple syrup
6-8 fresh mint leaves
1 lemon wedge for garnish
Ice preferably large cubes

For simple syrup:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water

Instructions

Prepare simple syrup (if you need to): Mix equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar fully dissolves, then let it cool.
Muddle the mint: Toss the mint leaves in your shaker and gently press with the muddler 4-5 times. You want the oils—not shredded leaves.
Add the rest: Pour in bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Shake it up: Add ice to the shaker, seal it, and shake hard for 15-20 seconds. You want it nice and cold.
Strain and serve: Fill a rocks glass with ice, then strain your cocktail over it.
Garnish: Pop a lemon wedge and maybe a mint sprig on top if you’re feeling fancy.

Notes

It’s easy to tweak this recipe. If you want it sweeter, bump up the simple syrup to 3/4 oz. For more lemon punch, add a splash more juice or a few drops of lemon bitters.

If you’re skipping alcohol, swap the bourbon for 2 oz of chilled, strong-brewed black tea. The tannins do a surprisingly good job mimicking bourbon’s complexity.

Making drinks for a crowd? Just multiply the recipe, mix everything except ice in a pitcher, and shake up individual servings when you’re ready.

This cocktail goes really well with grilled food—especially herby chicken or fish. It’s a summer staple at my place.

Tasting Notes

The Liberty Lemon Smash is all about bright, refreshing flavors. You get a big burst of lemon right off the bat—it’s zesty and wakes up your taste buds.

Fresh lemon juice brings clean acidity that cuts through the sweetness from the syrup. The result? Crisp, not cloying.

If you use vodka, it’s smooth and lets the citrus shine. Gin adds a little something extra with its botanicals, but doesn’t take over.

Primary Flavors:

Bright lemon zest
Clean citrus acidity
Light sweetness
Subtle alcohol warmth

If you add club soda, there’s a nice fizz that lifts everything and makes it feel lighter. The bubbles also help carry those fresh aromas.

The mint garnish isn’t just for show—it gives a herbal freshness right at the start of each sip, then the lemon takes over.

The finish is quick and clean, with lemon lingering just a bit. It’s easy to want another sip, especially when it’s hot out.

Serve it really cold—temperature makes a huge difference. When chilled, all the flavors line up perfectly instead of one dominating the rest.

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Substitute

If you don’t have lemons for the Liberty Lemon Smash cocktail, you can totally swap in other citrus fruits. Limes are a classic stand-in and give the drink a slightly different vibe.

Other citrus options include:

Grapefruit (adds a bitter note)
Orange (creates a sweeter drink)
Meyer lemons (less tart than regular lemons)

No fresh citrus hanging around? You could just use 1 ounce of bottled lemon juice instead of squeezing your own.

When it comes to sweetener, honey or agave nectar work instead of simple syrup. Go with about ¾ ounce, since both are usually a bit sweeter than the syrup.

The mint garnish can be swapped out for basil or even thyme if you’re feeling adventurous. Those herbs bring their own thing to the glass and honestly pair well with citrus.

For a non-alcoholic version, just use apple juice or strong black tea in place of bourbon. Maybe toss in a dash of vanilla extract to fake some of that bourbon-y complexity.

Liberty Lemon Smash Cocktail Recipe