Sweet Tea Smash (Bourbon) - (21+)

Sweet Tea Bourbon Smash

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By the Fire

Sweet tea and bourbon don’t need an introduction — they’ve been shaking hands in the South for as long as porches had rocking chairs. But if you want to make that handshake memorable, take a lemon wedge, drop it on the grate, and let the fire do its work.

That charred citrus brings out a smoky edge that plain tea can’t touch. The bourbon rides high, the tea smooths it out, and the lemon ties it together. It’s not fancy — it’s familiar, but elevated just enough to keep folks leaning in for another pour.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon

• 2 oz sweet tea

• ¾ oz lemon juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• Ice

• Charred lemon wedge, for garnish

• Mint sprig (optional)

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PitMaster’s Way

Step 1 — Shake it Up

In a shaker with ice, combine bourbon, sweet tea, lemon juice, and syrup. Shake until cold.

Step 2 — Pour with Ease

Strain into a tall glass over ice.

Step 3 — Garnish with Fire

Add a charred lemon wedge right on the rim. If you want it greener, tuck in a sprig of mint.

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Hosting Notes

✦ For flair: Serve in mason jars for backyard charm.

✦ For garnish: Clap a mint sprig between your hands to release oils before adding.

✦ For elevation: Brew a batch of strong tea with smoked ice cubes for a slow-release effect.

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Pitmaster’s Pour

Want a Smash that tastes like it came straight from the pit? Fat-wash your bourbon with Boston butt drippings. The pork fat carries spice and smoke from the rub, adding depth that sweet tea alone can’t bring. One sip and you’ll swear the drink was poured right beside the pulled pork platter.

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From the Porch

The Smash belongs to those wide-open afternoons when the grill’s loaded with chicken, potato salad’s waiting on the table, and everyone’s grabbing mason jars from the counter. The tea is sweet, the bourbon steady, and the charred lemon ties it back to the coals. It’s a drink for the middle of the cook — plates full, conversations overlapping, and music floating across the yard.

These recipes are intended for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the United States; please follow the laws in your region). Fire up the grill, not the driver’s seat. Stoking the Coals encourages moderation, community, and safe enjoyment of food and drink. Please never drink and drive, and always respect your health, your guests, and the law.