Paradise Pepper Smash

This invigorating cocktail, the Paradise Pepper Smash, perfectly balances the sweet and bitter flavors of honey, bourbon, and Campari with the bright notes of grapefruit and lemon. A touch of basil and a hint of black pepper add an extra layer of complexity to this delightful drink.

Paradise Pepper Smash

A refreshing and complex cocktail that balances the sweetness of honey, the richness of bourbon, and the bitterness of Campari, topped with a hint of basil and black pepper.

4.50 from 35 votes
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 basil sprigs (plus 1 for garnish)
  • 1 ounce bourbon
  • 1 ounce Campari
  • 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice
  • 3/4 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce honey syrup (combine 1 tablespoon honey and 1/2 tablespoon warm water)
  • 2 dashes of black pepper

Instructions

  1. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of honey in a small jar with 1 tablespoon of warm water by shaking.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add 1 basil sprig, 1 ounce bourbon, 1 ounce Campari, 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, 1/2 ounce honey syrup, and 2 dashes of black pepper.
  3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the outside becomes frosty.
  4. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish it with a fresh basil sprig.