The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (2024)

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (1)

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Often relegated to the chillier months of the year, bourbon is a true American-born spirit. Whether you like your bourbon drinks potent, like a classic boulevardier, or prefer something with a fresher, more fruity twist, we've got recipes that prove that bourbon can be the right choice for every palette and season.

Love Letters

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (2)

Ingredients

1 oz bourbon
.5 oz Patron Citronge orange liqueur
7 dashes of Angostura bitters
7 dashes of Peychauds bitters
Champagne
1 lemon twist

Instructions
Add all ingredients (except champagne) into a chilled mixing vessel and stir for 15 seconds. Pour into a chilled coupe, top off with champagne and garnish with an extra long lemon twist.

Courtesy of the Rum House

Winter Spiced Old Fashioned

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (3)

Ingredients
2 oz bourbon
.5 oz winter spiced simple syrup*
2 dashes orange bitters
2 dashes aromatic bitters
Cinnamon stick

Instructions
Stir ingredients with ice. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

*To make the winter spiced simple syrup, simmer 1:1 simple syrup with clove, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

From YNK, Irvine, California

The Libertine

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (4)

Ingredients

2 oz simple syrup
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 oz bourbon
2 oz fresh lemon juice
2 tsp orange marmalade
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 egg white

Instructions
Boil simple syrup and rosemary in a small saucepan, and allow it to cool to room temperature. Strain the syrup and add it to a shaker with bourbon, lemon juice, and marmalade. Add ice and shake. Pour into a glass with ice. Add maple syrup, orange juice, and egg white to the shaker. Shake until frothy and pour over co*cktail. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Served at the Chandelier Bar in Las Vegas.

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Hot Toddy

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (5)

Ingredients

8 oz hot water
1 tea bag
2 oz bourbon
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon juice
1 lemon slice

Instructions
Pour hot water into mug and steep tea for two to three minutes. Remove tea bag and add honey, whiskey, and lemon juice. Stir. Garnish with lemon slice.

MORE: How to Make a Hot Toddy the Right Way

Very Merry Bourbon Alexander

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (6)

Ingredients

1 oz bourbon
1 oz crème de cacao
1 oz half and half
One egg white
Dash of simple syrup
Dash of salt

Instructions
Combine ingredients in shaker, add ice, shake vigorously, strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with nutmeg, cranberries ,and a sprig of rosemary.

By Monica Wolf

Thyme Will Tell

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (7)

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
.5 oz maple syrup
.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Thyme

Instructions
Muddle thyme then combine ingredients and serve on the rocks. Garnish with a lemon peel.

From The Sea Fire Grill in New York City

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Full Harvest

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (8)

Ingredients

2 oz Basil Hayden's bourbon
.75 oz limoncello
.5 oz orange juice
.25 oz lemon juice
.25 oz simple syrup
1 dash of cranberry bitters
1 egg white

Instructions
Shake hard with ice. Serve up in coupe glass.

From Péché in Austin, Texas

Star Hill Provisions House co*cktail

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (9)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 tsp fresh lemon Juice
4 oz Kentucky Ale-8-One (if unavailable, substitute your favorite ginger ale)
8 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions
Build all of the ingredients except for soda in a highball glass with ice. Top off with Kentucky Ale-8-One and stir once.

By Chef Newman Miller of Star Hill Provisions in Loretto, Kentucky

Bourbon Milk Punch Milk Punch

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (10)

Ingredients

2 cups cream
2 cups whole milk
1 cup Woodford Reserve bourbon
.75 cup sifted powdered sugar
Half of a vanilla bean
Fresh grated nutmeg

Instructions
In a metal bowl over an ice bath, whisk sugar, cream, milk, and bourbon until nice and frothy. Add vanilla bean and strain through fine mesh strainer into pitcher. Place pitcher in freezer for 30 minutes to an hour stirring on occasion. Pour into glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

From Sea Island Resort, Sea Island, Georgia

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Giro d'Italia

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (11)

Ingredients

2 oz Elijah Craig bourbon
.75 oz fresh lemon juice
.75 oz agave syrup
2 cherry tomatoes
5 fresh basil leaves

Instructions
Muddle tomatoes and four basil leaves. Add other ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into an old fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with a basil leaf.

Created by Ruben Bansie and served at Bar Velo in Brooklyn, New York

Peach Tree Old Fashioned

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (12)

Ingredients

2 oz Peerless bourbon
1 tsp Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup
4 large peach slices
2 dashes black walnut bitters
Orchid for garnish

Instructions
Muddle 2 Peach slices in a mixing glass, add all other ingredients and stir with ice for about 15 seconds. Double fine strain into a rocks glass full of crushed ice and garnish with remaining peach slices and orchid.

The Exene

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (13)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Hudson Baby Bourbon
1 oz Aperol aperitif
.5 oz fresh lemon juice
.5 oz honey syrup
Half-dropper of Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters

Instructions
Add ingredients to shaker with ice and shake to chill.

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Vintage Dream

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (14)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Elijah Craig Bourbon
1 oz Paul Masson Brandy
1 oz Giffard Banana Liqueur
3 Dashes Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and serve with a large ice cube.

From Mess Hall Market in Tustin, California.

Winter's Eve

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (15)

Ingredients

.25 oz Amaro CioCiaro
.25 oz maraschino liqueur
.75 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
1.5 oz Old Forester Bourbon
Lemon

Instructions
Prepare co*cktail in a mixing glass, fill with ice, stir for 25 seconds, let sit a few seconds more while preparing coupe glass. Pour co*cktail, squeeze lemon zest over co*cktail, discard the lemon, and garnish with maraschino cherry.

From Simbal, Los Angeles

Kentucky Mulled Cider

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (16)

Ingredients

1.25 oz Maker's Mark Bourbon
Hot apple cider
Dash of allspice
Tall cinnamon stick
Lemon slice

Instructions
Add bourbon to a mug. Fill mug with hot apple cider and dash of allspice. Garnish with tall cinnamon stick and lemon slice.

From Maker's Mark

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Whiskey Sour

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (17)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1 tsp lemon juice
.5 tsp sugar
Orange slice
Maraschino cherry

Instructions
Add bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar to co*cktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into chilled rocks glass. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

From Bulleit Bourbon

Boulevardier

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (18)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon
1 oz Campari
.75 oz Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth
Orange peel

Instructions
Build ingredients in a mixing glass, using a jigger. Add ice and stir with bar spoon. Strain with a julep strainer into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with spritzed orange peel.

From Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak, & Stone Crab

Cure for the Chicago Cold

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (19)

Ingredients

1 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
.5 oz Aperol
.5 oz Amaro Montenegro
.5 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
3 oz Rare Tea Cellars Emperor's Lemon Meritage tea, steeped

Instructions
Combine above in a metal shaker. Submerge the bottom of the shaker in another shaker filled with hot water and stir to combine and warm ingredients. Pour into a mug and top with hot tea. Garnish with a few gratings of cinnamon.

Courtesy of Spiaggia Restaurant & Lounge

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Biltmore Fuerte

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (20)

Ingredients

2 oz Cutler's 33 Bourbon
.5 oz organic lemon juice
.75 oz strawberry purée
.75 oz honey
Honeycomb
Lavender flowers

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a co*cktail shaker and shake vigorously. Pour over ice in a stemless wine glass. Garnish with honeycomb and fresh lavender.

Courtesy of Samantha Graham at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara

Bless Your Heart

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (21)

Ingredients

1 part Knob Creek Single Barrel
1 part Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur.
5 parts Punt e Mes
.25 parts fresh lemon juice
Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino Cherries on skewer

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a glass. Add ice and stir. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with cherries.

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (22)

Lauren Hubbard

Writer

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and co*cktails.

The Best Bourbon co*cktail Recipes, From Undeniable Classics to New Twists (2024)

FAQs

What's the best drink to mix with bourbon? ›

The Manhattan is arguably one of the best bourbon co*cktails, famous for its classic combination of Bourbon, vermouth, and aromatic bitters. Although the co*cktail is traditionally made with American Rye whiskey, Bourbon places a twist on the classic recipe.

What is bourbon with a twist? ›

It means bourbon or rye (whiskey), with ice (sometimes called rocks) with a narrow slice of the skin of a lemon, “twisted” until the lemon oil erupts from the skin and the rind (skin side) is then rubbed along the lip of the glass (to give the imbiber an immediate taste of lemon even before the alcohol reaches the ...

What soda is good with bourbon? ›

Just mix the bourbon with some soda water, add ice, and call it a day! If you enjoy the pure taste of bourbon, we suggest using soda water. If you like your co*cktails a bit sweeter, use ginger ale or ginger beer.

What juice is good with bourbon? ›

100% pure cranberry juice mixes with bourbon, freshly squeezed lemon juice and homemade simple syrup to create this winter-flavored co*cktail, entitled The Blizzard. Serve with frozen cranberries or ice, and enjoy this slightly sweet bourbon drink during the chilly months.

What is the famous bourbon drink? ›

The most classic of all bourbon co*cktails, the Old Fashioned has been around for more than 200 years. Its staying power owes to its simplicity: Little more than a slug of whiskey, seasoned and sweetened with Angostura bitters and sugar, the drink is more special than a neat pour, but nearly as easy to enjoy.

How do you drink bourbon like a pro? ›

Bourbon purists drink their juice neat- which means it's served at room temperature without anything added. It's typically poured in a rocks glass, shot glass, snifter, or Glencairn glass. This is the preferred method for seasoned whiskey drinkers, but it's a great way to get the real deal from a bottle of bourbon.

What are the five rules of bourbon? ›

To be bourbon, whiskey must be (1) made and aged in the U.S., (2) made from a mash that is at least 51% corn, (3) distilled to a proof no higher than 159 (79.5 percent ABV), (4) aged in new charred oak barrels and put into the barrel at no more than 125 proof (“entry proof”), and (5) bottled at no less than 80 proof, ...

What is the straight bourbon rule? ›

Though the law doesn't specify the species of oak, most distilleries use white oak because it is most suited to building a secure, watertight barrel.. It gets even more complicated than this. To be considered “straight Bourbon,” it must be aged for a minimum of two years in new charred oak containers.

What is the rule for bourbon? ›

Rule #1 –To be called bourbon, it must be made in the United States. (Crown Royal is Canadian, and doesn't , so that's definitely not bourbon.) Rule #2 – Bourbon must be made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn.

What is a bourbon and co*ke called? ›

Whiskey and co*ke is a highball co*cktail made by mixing whiskey, typically bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, with Coca-Cola or other colas. A popular version of the drink is Jack and co*ke (also referred to as JD and co*ke or Jack co*ke), where the Jack Daniel's brand of whiskey is used.

What can I mix with bourbon besides co*ke? ›

  1. Vermouth. Vermouth's herbaceous notes and subtle sweetness blend seamlessly with whiskey in co*cktails like Boulevardier, Blood & Sand, and Manhattan. ...
  2. Ginger ale or ginger beer. Ginger ale and ginger beer offer a spicy kick to whiskey co*cktails. ...
  3. Tonic water or club soda. ...
  4. Amaro. ...
  5. Cola. ...
  6. Coffee. ...
  7. Bitters. ...
  8. Citrus.
Nov 15, 2023

What fruit goes best in bourbon? ›

Dried Fruit: Some cranberries, dates, apricots, apples or even pineapple. Dried fruits concentrate the sugars in the fruit and create some very interesting flavor changes in Bourbon. Fresh Fruits: Orange slices, apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and peaches are all good.

Does OJ go with bourbon? ›

A small amount of OJ is enough to temper high-proof bourbon, spicy rye, or even peated scotch, he adds. “As long as the proof of the whisky is around 100, it's going to hold up really well.”

What is a whiskey and cranberry juice called? ›

Jump to Recipe. by Jessica November 10, 2022. This cranberry cinnamon whiskey sour is the perfect warming co*cktail for the holiday season. Cranberry juice, bourbon, lemon and simple syrup poured over ice and cinnamon sticks for a holiday twist.

Is bourbon and Sprite good? ›

It was just a sophisticated, clean co*cktail. I was delighted to taste both ingredients without the rough burn of the bourbon rushing down my throat. The best thing, though, is that you can easily tailor this drink to your tastebuds. If you like the full, strong flavor of bourbon you can use less Sprite.

What are three ways to drink bourbon? ›

How to Drink Bourbon: 4 Ways Everyone Can Enjoy
  • Drinking Bourbon Neat.
  • Drinking Bourbon With A Splash of Water.
  • Drinking Bourbon On The Rocks.
  • Drinking Bourbon In A co*cktail Or A Splash Of Soda.

Is bourbon and co*ke good? ›

Bourbon and co*ke is a staple for any bourbon fan. Who could resist that mixture of sweetness balanced with the heady notes (especially from barrel-aged bourbon)? It's a combo that bourbon drinkers love worldwide.

Does bourbon taste good with soda? ›

This simple mix is a surprising hit, with a zesty, clean pour of soda loosening the rich vanilla and clove flavours of tasty Bourbon for an impressive long drink.

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