Name: Strawberry Smash Cocktail
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 tsp granulated sugar; 1-2 wedges lime; 4 fresh strawberries, sliced; 3 oz. gin; Club soda; 1 mint leaf for garnish

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In this post: This strawberry smash cocktail is a delicious and refreshing summer drink featuring muddled strawberries and a hint of mint!

This refreshing cocktail with strawberries and fresh mint is the perfect summer drink! To bring out the strawberry flavor in this cocktail, muddle the strawberries gently in the glass before adding the other ingredients. Learn to make this recipe (and variations) for yourself with step-by-step instructions below.

Strawberry smash cocktail in two tall glasses.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This strawberry smash cocktail recipe:

is quick and easy to make
doesn’t require fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients
is adaptable to most dietary restrictions or allergies

What is a Smash Cocktail?

Smash cocktails are versatile drinks that often include alcohol, a sweetener, sparkling water, ice, and muddled fruit. There are many variations of smash cocktails (ideas below!), but this strawberry gin smash cocktail is my personal favorite! Smash cocktails are the perfect drink for parties and hot summer days by the pool.

Strawberry smash cocktail with fresh mint (shot from above).

Strawberry Smash Cocktail Ingredients

Granulated sugar: the perfect sweetener for this drink.
Lime wedges: zesty lime flavor offsets the sweetness of the sugar.
Fresh, juicy strawberries: adds a delicious summery flavor and color.
Gin: dry with piney and citrusy flavor.
Club soda: adds a refreshing carbonation to this drink.
Mint leaf: a sweet and cooling fresh garnish.

Substitutions and Variations

Sweetener – if you don’t have any granulated sugar, try brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
Fresh fruit – instead of strawberries, you can add watermelon, peach, pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, or oranges.
Alcohol – if you don’t have gin, try vodka, rum, tequila, sparkling wine, or whiskey.
Sparkling water – instead of club soda, you can add seltzer, soda water, or sparkling mineral water.
Extra ingredients – cucumber (especially if you’re making a watermelon cocktail!), fresh basil leaves, lemon juice or slices, or edible flowers.

Strawberry smash cocktail with fresh strawberries and mint (close up shot).

Instructions

In a tall glass, add the sugar and the lime juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
Add the strawberry slices to the glass. Crush (muddle) the berries a little.
Add the gin. Now, fill the remainder of the glass with club soda.
Add ice if desired.
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and enjoy!

Strawberry smash cocktail with mint leaf on top (close up of mint leaf).

Tips for the Best Strawberry Smash Cocktail

If you like your drink cold, don’t forget to add plenty of ice! But keep in mind that the melting ice will water down the drink.
Make sure you muddle the strawberries well so that their juices mix into the drink for all that great strawberry flavor!
For the best cocktail, buy good-quality alcohol! Lower-quality alcohol won’t ruin your cocktail, but you’ll be able to tell the difference.
Fresh strawberries and mint taste much better than frozen strawberries and dried mint!

FAQs

What gin is best for this recipe?

Most gin has a piney flavor from the juniper in it. However, in this recipe, I like to use a gin that has the least pine flavor.

Can I use a different type of sugar?

Absolutely! Aside from granulated white sugar, you can use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.

Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?

You can make a pitcher ahead of time, just wait to add the ice, club soda, and mint leaves until you serve the drink.

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