Orange Jameson Whiskey Smash

A bright, citrus-forward twist on the classic whiskey smash, pairing smooth Jameson Irish Whiskey with muddled fresh oranges, aromatic mint, zesty lemon juice, and sweet simple syrup served over a mountain of crushed ice.

Instructions

1. 1.

   Place the orange wedges, fresh mint leaves, and simple syrup into a large cocktail shaker or sturdy mixing pitcher.

2. 2.

   Muddle firmly using a cocktail muddler for 20 to 30 seconds to extract the orange juices, essential oils from the peel, and aromatic mint oils without pulverizing the leaves.

3. 3.

   Add the Jameson Irish Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, orange bitters, and a scoop of cubed ice to the shaker.

4. 4.

   Seal and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds until the exterior of the shaker is frosty and thoroughly chilled.

5. 5.

   Fill four rocks glasses or double old-fashioned glasses to the top with crushed ice.

6. 6.

   Double strain the cocktail evenly into the prepared glasses using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine-mesh sieve to catch small citrus pulp and mint fragments.

7. 7.

   Gently slap the fresh mint sprigs between your palms to release the fragrant oils, then tuck one sprig and an orange wheel into the top of each glass alongside a short straw and serve immediately.