The Brandy Smash Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/27/21
Classic Brandy Smash Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The brandy smash is among the oldest mixed drinks. It is such a classic that it was created around the 1830s and saw its heyday during the Civil War. An excellent alternative to drinking brandy alone, this timeless drink is incredibly simple.

Like the old-fashioned, "smash" cocktails are short drinks that gently enhance a shot of liquor with complementary flavors. In the case of the brandy smash, mint and sugar are mixed with a muddler, and the brandy drink is served on the rocks. It's actually a lot like the mint julep (which likely inspired the smash drinks) and can be made with brandy, whiskey, or gin.

With any cocktail that's been around for nearly 200 years, you should expect that there are several ways to make it. Modern recipes tend to include soda (though not so much to make a brandy and soda), while older recipes skip that ingredient or use a splash of water. You can use sugar or simple syrup, add as much mint as you like, or bring lemons into the mix. The drink can also be built in the glass or shaken then strained.

Ingredients

  • 4 to 6 fresh mint leaves

  • 1 teaspoon superfine sugar

  • 1/2 ounce club soda

  • 2 ounces brandy

  • Orange slice, for garnish

  • Maraschino cherry, for garnish

  • Mint sprig, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. 

    Ingredients for a Brandy Smash Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  2. In an old-fashioned glass, muddle mint, sugar, and club soda until sugar is dissolved.

    Mixing a Classic Brandy Smash Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  3. Fill glass with ice cubes or cracked ice. Add brandy and stir well.

    Mixing a Brandy Smash Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  4. Garnish with an orange slice, cherry, and mint. Serve and enjoy.

    Classic Brandy Smash Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Tips

  • Be sure to mix the sugar with the soda until it is completely dissolved. You can make superfine sugar from granulated sugar; it is recommended because the finer grains dissolve better.
  • To avoid that entirely, use a 1:1 simple syrup instead; 1/4 ounce (1 1/2 teaspoons) is a good place to start. Some recipes use up to 3/4 ounce, though that can be too sweet for most brandies.
  • Gomme syrup is often used in alcohol-heavy cocktails like this, and 1 teaspoon will give the brandy smash a silky texture.

Recipe Variations

"Professor" Jerry Thomas is the most revered bartender of the 19th century. His 1862 book, "How to Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant's Companion," was the world's first bartending guide and remains a valuable resource for making classic cocktails.

  • To make Thomas' brandy smash, dissolve 1 teaspoon of superfine sugar into 2 teaspoons of water in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 ounces of brandy and 2 sprigs of mint and shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with cracked ice and garnish with mint or an orange slice and seasonal berries.
  • Like Thomas' whiskey smash, a few pieces of lemon can really brighten up the flavor with the right brandy. Two dashes of orange bitters is a nice addition to this version.
  • The gin smash was an equally popular drink in the 1800s. It was typically made with genever (commonly called Holland gin at the time), and the substitution works in either the brandy or whiskey smash recipes.

What's the best liquor for a smash cocktail?

Though nearly any brandy works well, many drinkers prefer cognac in the brandy smash. Whether you choose brandy, rye whiskey, bourbon, or gin, the liquor forms most of the drink, so make it a good one. This is a drink that deserves a brand you enjoy drinking straight because there is little else in the drink to disguise a poor choice.

How Strong Is the Brandy Smash?

The brandy is the main ingredient of the brandy smash, and the finished drink is just slightly below the liquor's bottling strength. If you pour an 80-proof brandy, expect the alcohol content to fall somewhere around 23 percent ABV (46 proof).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
168 Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 168
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 11mg 56%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 69mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)