This drink has me ready for summer,
Let me take you back to when I went to Louisville. It was my first time visiting Kentucky and I couldn’t have been more excited. One of my goals was to visit NEW places so I was excited to check something off the list!
But I was more excited to see a city that’s so rooted in bourbon and learn more about the craft that goes behind it all. Everyone who knows me knows I’m kind of obsessed with learning all the things. I just think it’s so fun to learn fun tidbits of info. Plus, I’m all about a good cocktail!
I headed out to Louisville with Coopers’ Craft, a new bourbon that’s a must try. You’ve seen me share a cocktail before, my maple bourbon apple cider cocktail. It’s smooth, light and has great flavor. We learned all about where exactly that flavor comes from which you can catch on my Instagram Story highlight “Louisville”.
We saw them take the toasted staves (the wooden pieces of the barrel), add them and form them into a barrel, char the inside and tops for great flavor and then fill them up with whiskey which will soon become Kentucky straight bourbon.
The whole process was super cool.
We visited their cooperage, that’s where they make the barrels that hold the bourbon, to see the whole process. Coopers’ Craft is truly a nod to the coopers behind the barrels.
Since the barrel makes the bourbon, well, might as well also make the barrels! This process is labor intensive and has several steps from getting just the right amount of char and toasting the wood just enough for flavor and color.
To bring out some of the vanilla and citrus flavors in Coopers’ Craft, I decided to make a peach, mint and maple smash. It’s the perfect way to welcome spring and will be a
You can use any of your favorite stone fruits for this too. Plums, nectarines or peaches work great. Since I’m in Atlanta though, it’s peaches all day everyday.
My Peach Mint And Maple Bourbon Smash
COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS
- 1 peach, diced
- 5-10 mint sprigs, torn
- 2 oz of Coopers’ Craft
- 1/2 oz of maple syrup
- Soda water
- Pint glass
- Muddler
- Ice
Here’s How To Make It
Step One – Grab Your Ingredients
Add your diced peach, maple syrup and torn-up mint leaves to a pint glass
Step Two – Muddle!
You’ll want to muddle these 3 things together and get all the juices flowing. Depending on how juicy your peaches are (ours were NOT juicy) you may need a few more pieces. Muddle until your peaches are nice and mushy and all the juices are out.
Step Three – Add The Bourbon
Add in your Coopers’ Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I always recommend 2 oz of liquor per cocktail. Then add ice.
Step Four – Shake, Shake, Shake!
Shake the heck out of it. You want to continue to break up the mint and get all the flavors going together. You should always shake a cocktail for at least 30 seconds.
Step Five – Pour & Garnish
Strain your drink over ice cubes and top with a little soda water. Depending on your preference, you can drink this without soda water in a coupe glass.
But I enjoy a little sparkling water in it, it’s a bit more refreshing that way. Garnish your drink with a peach slice and sprig of fresh mint.
This content is intended for people of legal drinking age. Coopers’ Craft 21+ • Honor the Craft. Drink Responsibly. • Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 41.1-50% ABV, Brown-Forman Beverages, Louisville, KY.
