Bourbon has been a favorite among whisky drinkers for nearly two centuries. This highly sought-after liquid leaves even seasoned drinkers with a lasting impact thanks to its distinctive black flavor profile.
But why is Scotch whisky so great for mixing drinks that everyone will remember? The rich flavor profile is a great accent to beverages of many kinds. It often has traces of vanilla and caramel connected by earthy wood. Adding bourbon to a drink instantly elevates it to a higher level of sophistication and complexity.
Learn the basics of mixing bourbon cocktails right here! First, we’ll cover the basic cocktails everyone should know, such as the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan, followed by the seasonal beverages perfect for your next dinner party or get-together, and finally, the most difficult concoctions that only the most experienced mixologists should attempt.
Bourbon is the Ideal Liquor for Making Cocktails
When compared to its Irish, Scottish, and Japanese counterparts, Bourbon shines out. The quality of this one-of-a-kind American beverage is well-known, for one thing. Whisky fans adore this corn-based liquor, which is aged in charred new oak barrels to get a deep golden color and rich flavor profile.
While you may certainly sip bourbon neat or on the rocks, you should also give certain bourbon cocktails a try. You can tailor the flavor profiles of the bourbon cocktails to your heart’s content. If you’re hosting a dinner party and want to serve something sophisticated and savory to your guests, or if you just want to relax with something at the end of the day, these suggestions are for you. However, bourbon is the solution.
The following is a list of drink recipes that feature bourbon whisky. This carefully selected list is meant to assist you in mastering the art of the cocktail with the right ingredient: bourbon, whether you are just beginning to enjoy bourbon as a novice whisky drinker or have been sipping the prized amber liquid for a long time.
The Classics
If you’re new to the world of bourbon cocktails, you should begin with these classics. These are the classic cocktails that feature bourbon and should be on your drink menu if you’re just beginning to fancy yourself a bourbon connoisseur.
Whiskey Hi-ball
When it comes to combining drinks with bourbon, the highball is about as easy as it gets. Whisky, soda, and ice make up this simple cocktail. It’s ideal for a fast drink before heading out with friends or as a last-minute cocktail idea when entertaining.
Ingredients:
Water with bourbon added to it (or ginger beer or ginger ale).
Garnish with lemon.
Tools:
A highball glass is all that’s required for this cocktail.
Steps:
The ingredients for this drink are minimal. It’s as easy as combining the bourbon with the soda water and topping it off with ice.
We recommend using soda water if you prefer a more subtle flavor in your bourbon. Use ginger ale or ginger beer if you want sweeter drinks.
Old Fashioned
While it may be out of date, its popularity has not diminished. You’re about to learn that the old-fashioned satisfies the requirements of the earliest known definition of a mixed drink, which calls for alcohol, sugar, water, and bitters.
This cocktail’s seductive flavor comes from the combination of bourbon’s robust character and the sweet jolt of simple syrup and maraschino cherries. A splash of bitters brings everything together nicely. It’s a classic cocktail that even inexperienced bourbon drinkers should give a shot. This cocktail may be one of the all-time favorites, even though it is, well, old-fashioned.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp of sugar syrup
- 1 ml/tsp water
- Double dash of bitters
- 1 mug of ice
- 1/2 inch of lemon rind
- 1 cherry maraschino
Tools:
The only tools you’ll need to make this classic whisky drink are a whisky glass and a bar spoon.
Steps:
- First, fill your glass with water, then add the simple syrup and the bitters.
- Mix in some ice, then stir again.
- Pour the bourbon on top, and then add the orange slice and cherry.
Kentucky Mule
If another bourbon drink were to compete with the old-fashioned for popularity, the Kentucky mule would give it a run for its money. Lime juice, ginger beer, bourbon, and simple syrup go into making this cocktail.
The Kentucky Mule, a relative of the vodka-based Moscow Mule, has a more robust and smoky flavor. Use a premium ginger beer in this cocktail to balance out the smokiness of the bourbon.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 shots of bourbon
- Freshly squeezed lime juice, half an ounce of Ginger ale
- Decorate with a sprig of mint.
Tools:
The traditional Moscow mule mug and nothing else will do!
Steps:
- A Moscow Mule is made by combining bourbon and lime juice in a copper mug.
- Add ice and ginger beer to the glass.
- Top with a sprig of mint
Bourbon Manhattan
The Manhattan is another crowd-pleasing drink that often features rye whisky. Instead, bourbon offers the classic drink a deeper flavor profile, with hints of vanilla, oak, and caramel when used to make a Manhattan.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of bourbon
- Red vermouth, sweet, 1 ounce
- Angostura bitters, three dashes
- Cherry for garnish
Tools:
A cocktail mixing glass is all that’s required to make this timeless beverage. It’s fine if you don’t have a real cocktail shaker. Avoid diluting your drink by shaking it, though. When pouring into a cocktail glass, you may also use a strainer.
Steps:
- Blend bourbon, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with a stir.
- Pour through a strainer into a cocktail glass
- Three cherries as a garnish
Bourbon Cocktails for the Winter
These mixed bourbon drinks are a must-have for any holiday party you throw. Bourbon’s robust flavor profile works particularly well in the autumn and winter, but it may be enjoyed year-round. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to put a new spin on some old summer favorites.
Bourbon Apple Cider
It’s not officially winter until the bourbon apple cider is served. Is there anything more comforting and timely than this delicious cocktail as the leaves begin to fall and the air becomes crisp? This refreshing beverage requires only a few basic ingredients and can be prepared in minutes.
The bourbon apple cider is the ideal winter drink, so light some more logs in the fireplace and put on your warmest jumper.
Ingredients:
- Cider with Lemon and Apple
- Add an apple slice, some thyme, or a cinnamon stick to your ginger ale or ginger beer for some extra flavor.
- Ice
Tools:
This wintry cocktail calls for only a glass, some ice, and a cocktail shaker.
Steps:
- Shake equal parts apple cider, bourbon, and ice.
- Pour through a strainer into a cup
- Spices make a great garnish.
The Bourbon Sour
The bourbon sour could be the wintery antithesis to the bourbon apple cider’s midsummer connotations of sunshine and outdoor barbecues. The drink’s basic but tasty combination of ingredients makes it ideal for a refreshing sip by the pool or at the end of a long day.
If you want to enhance the sweetness of bourbon, this drink is for you. We raise our glasses to you if you can manage to enjoy this lemon-infused bourbon sour while relaxing by the pool, regardless of the season.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of bourbon
- The equivalent of 1 ounce of lemon juice
- Sugar, superfine, 1/2 tsp
- One orange segment or cherry half
- Ice
Tools:
This refreshing drink requires only a shaker, strainer, ice, and ingredients, much like the bourbon apple cider.
Steps:
- Mix the bourbon, lemon juice, sugar, and lots of ice.
- Place in a strainer over a glass of ice.
- Top with a cherry or an orange slice
Cold Brew Coffee
Now that summer is almost here, you’ve undoubtedly started drinking cold brew coffee instead of the traditional hot variety. But have you tried it with bourbon?
Ingredients:
- Syrup of maple
- It’s a three-way split
- Iced coffee with lots of bourbon and milk
Steps:
- Pour the chilled coffee into a rocks glass and add the bourbon, maple syrup, and triple sec.
- Add a splash of heavy cream after mixing and marvel as the ingredients come together.
Hard Bourbon Drink Mixtures
Do you have a thirst for adventure? Or maybe you’re searching for something fancier than a Manhattan or highball because you’ve previously had those. Check out these sophisticated bourbon cocktails!
Bourbon Blackberry Smash
The blackberry bourbon smash is one of our favorite cocktails. This refreshing cocktail is like a cross between a mint julep and a mojito. Since club soda is the primary component, it gives imbibers a chance to try something tart and lighter.
The blackberry smash is a popular mixed bourbon drink because it strikes the ideal balance between the classic flavor of bourbon and the fresh, fruity flavor of the other ingredients. Enjoy the smokey bourbon profile by a crackling fire in the winter, or relax with the fruity undertones on a cool summer night. The Blackberry bourbon smash is an original drink that works for any event.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Basil
- Lime
- Blackberries
Tools:
- Bourbon Whiskey, Club Soda, and Ice
The essential tools are a muddler, strainer, and cocktail shaker. If you want to add to the allure of this cocktail’s artistic presentation, try drinking it out of a vintage glass.
Steps:
- Mix the sugar, basil leaves, lime juice, blackberries, and bourbon in a cocktail shaker.
- The berries, basil, and lime should be muddled together.
- Fill the glass almost entirely with ice.
- Shake.
- Put ice in an old-fashioned glass.
- Add club soda to the glass, then strain the mixture in.
- Decorate with extra toppings like berries, basil, and lime.
Bollinger Cocktail
This hybrid of the Manhattan and the Negroni will appeal to those who aren’t keen on the blackberry smash’s more sugary flavor profile. This sophisticated beverage is perfect for any season due to its robust flavor despite its minimal use of flavoring. If you want to enjoy the full impact of the whiskey’s flavor without diluting it too much, try drinking it with just one large ice cube.
The Boulevardier cocktail, sometimes known as the “Negroni’s cousin,” is the ideal concoction for those with a more refined palate. If you’re searching for something more suave to drink at the bar or to try at home, this is it.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 shots of bourbon
- 1. oz. of Campari
- A shot of vermouth
- Zest of lemon
Tools:
You’ll need a mixing glass, a bar spoon, and a cocktail glass with a stem for this traditional drink.
Steps:
- Combine everything in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Pour the contents of the strainer into the glass.
- Top with lemon rind for garnish
Begin Mixing Now
Bourbon is an essential component of many traditional cocktails because of its deep and powerful flavor character. You won’t be let down if you give them a shot in the kitchen or ask for them in a bar. One of the finest ways to impress friends is to show off your mixology skills, which is also a great hobby for drinkers with discerning palates. You can begin blending right now.