About
Two classic Southern drinks go hand-in-hand in this Sweet Tea Smash. The classic sweet tea boasts its robust black tea flavor with a sweet hint of a homemade ginger-lemon syrup, all of which gets added to the smoky smoothness of bourbon. This is the kind of cocktail you make when enjoying a day out in the sun or at a cookout with friends. Sweet Tea Smash is just perfect for showing others real Southern hospitality.
Ingredients
- For the cocktail:
- 7 cups water, divided
- 6 bags black tea
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1-inch knob ginger, optional, peeled and grated
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 6 ounces bourbon
- 12 dashes bitters
- For serving:
- ice, to taste
- lemon wheels, to taste
- fresh mint leaves, to taste
Directions
Step 1 -In a pot or large saucepan, add 6 cups of the water and bring it to a boil.
Step 2 -Add the tea bags to the hot water and brew them according to the package directions.
Step 3 -Strain out the tea bags, being careful not to squeeze or press them.
Step 4 -In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the remaining water, the sugar, the grated ginger, and the lemon juice and bring it to a simmer.
Step 5 -Simmer the sugar mixture just until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Step 6 -Pour the ginger-lemon syrup into a bowl using a fine-mesh strainer to catch the pieces of the grated ginger and the lemon pulp.
Step 7 -Slowly add the ginger-lemon syrup in increments to the tea, stirring after each addition and tasting before adding more. You may not need all of the syrup.
Step 8 -Add the bourbon and the bitters to the tea.
Step 9 -Pour the cocktail into a pitcher and let it chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Step 10 -Serve over the ice and garnish with the lemon wheels and the mint.
