Summer cocktails should be easy, breezy and refreshing. Strawberry Rhubarb Whiskey Smash does all of that plus more!
I’m back my Friday Happy Hour lovers! I know, I bet you thought I abandoned you in your quest for a fancy cocktail at the end of the long week and I did just that a little bit. Shame on me but June just caught up with me, flew on by and now I promise to make it up to you for good. We start with an easy, breezy, refreshing cocktail using the strawberry rhubarb compote I shared yesterday. Technically this may not be a true smash cocktail since the strawberry and rhubarb has been cooked down and smashed for us but I like the title and I’m sticking with it. Plus I smashed the ice, it counts (sort of).
Frankly my hiatus is well timed for the 4th of July weekend because you end up with two great recipes to use all weekend long. Enjoy that compote for breakfast or dessert and then make batches of cocktails to sip on with friends and family. Win win situation.
So what have I been doing that kept me so busy all month?
Well for starters, cookie baking my friends. The shop is back to full force, and kept me running around a few weekends in June between online orders and selling at the Vendy Plaza in Manhattan. It will continue to keep me busy through July but busy is a good thing. You should make it out to the food plaza one Sunday if you’re around.
The rest of the month was filled with cooking as usual, way too much TV watching – there might have been a binge on the back half of Orange is the New Black and family time. My parents were in from Florida for Father’s Day and I loved that I finally had time to see them for more than a quick dinner or barbecue at my brother’s house on the island. I also learned that cooking and attempting to photograph a dish in front of my entire family is not something I want to do ever again. You try doing your job in front of 18 hungry people, it’s not fun.
Lastly I jetted off to Chicago for 4 days for blog learning and a lot of eating at Eat Write Retreat. You can catch all my Chicago shenanigans over on instagram. Let’s just say I packed a lot of food into the last day of my trip and then came back to eat again the Fancy Food Show. I’m stuffed but totally worth it.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey (you can sub Rye or Bourbon)
- 1 tablespoon Strawberry Rhubarb Compote
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- crushed ice
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with whiskey, strawberry rhubarb compote, vanilla bean paste and ice. Shake well.
- In an old fashioned glass fill to the top with crushed ice and pour the cocktail over, do not use a strainer so you can pour out any bits of compote.
- Garnish with fresh strawberries and rhubarb stalks.
- Makes 1 cocktail
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Sounds like you’ve had a really busy summer so far! Me, too 🙂 Love this cocktail with the little bit of vanilla included. Sounds perfect for a summery Friday afternoon.
Gorgeous photos, fabulous drink! Enjoy your 4th of July weekend!
What a fun month you’ve had. Now we need to celebrate the fun with your delicious drink!
I’m sorry but I can’t help but think “Hulk, smash!” when I hear whiskey smash haha That’s ok. I’m sure the Hulk would’ve loved this whiskey drink 😉 I’ll have to pick up some strawberries and rhubarb to make this soon!
This is my kind of cocktail! Can’t wait to try it. Happy 4th of July!
I love this so much! I can’t wait to make this!
It sounds as though you’ve had a busy month! This smash looks spectacularly delicious for these hot summer days. And really, I can’t get enough of whiskey cocktails.
I wish K’s grad was on another weekend because I wanted to come to EWR so badly. Would have been so much fun to see you.
This drink looks amazing. I can’t imagine taking my work photos in front of my entire family. They would flip out, so many people aren’t used to waiting around like us food bloggers are. Lol.
So glad your bake shop is back up and running, and it sounds like you’ve had an action-packed but really fun summer so far! I’m also really glad you had time to share this cocktail recipe, because cocktails made with jams/compotes are one of my favorite things in the summer. So easy, fruity and refreshing!