French Quarter Smash

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 05/6/21
A French Quarter Smash cocktail

Jason Rogers

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 30 mins
Total: 33 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
672 Calories
4g Fat
145g Carbs
12g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 672
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 28mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 145g 53%
Dietary Fiber 30g 105%
Total Sugars 73g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 575mg 2,876%
Calcium 280mg 22%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 2084mg 44%
*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.)

Moonshine, brandy, and blueberries in the same drink, is that possible? It is and Washington, D.C., bartender Jason Rogers has created this delightful cocktail he calls the French Quarter Smash to prove that they can work very well together.

The drink is actually very simple. The recipe requires whatever moonshine you can get your hands on, a nice brandy (E&J XO is recommended), fresh mint, and lemon. A touch of housemade almond syrup and blueberry preserves finish the mix off perfectly. It's fun, unique, and one of the tastiest ways to drink moonshine.

Ingredients

For the Almond Syrup:

  • 1 cup raw sugar

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 teaspoons organic almond extract, or to taste

For the Cocktail:

Steps to Make It

Make the Almond Syrup

Beyond this cocktail, you can use this syrup as a substitute for amaretto syrups to sweeten coffee and to give that rich amaretto flavor to other nonalcoholic drinks. It should keep well in a tightly sealed jar or bottle for two weeks in the refrigerator.

  1. Bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.

  2. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir in the almond extract.

  3. Taste for the desired potency and add small amounts of extract as needed. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 20 minutes.

Make the French Quarter Smash

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lemon wedges and almond syrup until all of the juices are extracted. 

  3. Add the moonshine, brandy, mint leaves, and blueberry preserves, and fill the shaker with ice.

  4. Shake vigorously to fully mix the preserves. 

  5. Double strain into an old-fashioned glass with 1 large ice cube.

  6. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Once relegated to the backwoods, moonshine is becoming quite popular in the legal market, so it's getting easier to find. There are some fascinating brands of this unaged corn whiskey available now, and you'll want to try a few to find one that suits your taste. Virginia Lightning from Belmont Farm Distillery, Midnight Moonshine, and Manhattan Moonshine are great choices.
  • The blueberry preserves are another unique element that's not often seen in cocktails, and you have to admire their effect. The cocktail requires a bit more shaking to ensure that the preserves are properly mixed, though the texture that results from using them is spectacular.
  • If you have blueberries in your garden, you might think about using homemade blueberry jam as well.

How Strong Is a French Quarter Smash?

The alcohol content of this drink is going to depend on the strength of the moonshine and brandy you pour. If you choose 80-proof spirits for both, you're looking at a drink in the 17 percent ABV (34 proof) range. To put that into perspective, it's just like drinking a whiskey highball.