Ultimate Guide to the Best Bourbon Cocktails
National Bourbon Day is just around the corner, and we're excited to present our Ultimate Guide to the Best Bourbon Cocktails! From light and refreshing punches to spicy concoctions, our guide offers a wide array of ways to savor your bourbon. Whether you're a seasoned bourbon enthusiast or just starting your journey, there's something in our guide to delight every palate.
- Paper Plane
Experience a beautiful harmony of bitter, sour, and herbal flavors in one glass by crafting this cocktail with stronger bourbons for the full ride!
Ingredients:
- 3/4 ounce bourbon
- 3/4 ounce Aperol
- 3/4 ounce Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Instructions:
- Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Gold Rush
Rather than sugar, this cocktail uses honey which enhances the natural flavors of every ingredient in the drink.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 3/4 ounce honey syrup
- Garnish: lemon twist
Instructions:
- Add the bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass over one large ice cube.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
- Mint Julep
Mostly served during special occasions, this cocktail may appear simple but every sip feels like a refreshing wake-up call on a bright morning.
Ingredients:
- 8 mint leaves
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- Garnish: mint sprig
- Garnish: Angostura bitters (optional)
Instructions:
- In a Julep cup or rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the simple syrup.
- Add the bourbon then pack the glass tightly with crushed ice.
- Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
- Top with more crushed ice to form an ice dome, and garnish with a mint sprig and a few drops of bitters (optional).
- Bourbon Fruit Tea Punch
Tea, juice and bourbon – all your favorite drinks in one flavorful punch! This cocktail is not too strong making it the perfect brunch drink.
Ingredients:
- 6 black tea bags or 3 Tbsp. loose black tea
- ½ cup sugar
- ¾ cup fresh orange juice
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1½ cups bourbon
- Mint sprigs and lemon wheels (for serving)
Instructions:
- Brew tea in 2 cups boiling water in a teapot or measuring glass for 5 minutes.
- Remove tea bags; discard. Add sugar to tea; stir to dissolve. Let cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a pitcher.
- Add orange, pineapple, and lemon juices and 4 cups cold water; stir well to combine.
- Chill fruit tea until cold, at least 2 hours, or cover and chill up to 2 days.
- To make cocktails, pour 1½ oz. bourbon into each of 8 ice-filled glasses.
- Add 6 oz. fruit tea to each and stir to combine (you may have tea left over).
- Garnish with mint sprigs and lemon wheels. Alternatively, combine 6 cups fruit tea and 1½ cups bourbon in a pitcher.
- Pour among 8 ice-filled glasses; garnish.
- Old Pepper
If you need a bit of spice in your day, whip up this cocktail, especially on rainy days — it's the perfect drink to uplift your spirits.
Ingredients:
Turbinado Syrup:
- 1 cup Sugar in the Raw turbinado
- 1/2 cup water
Cocktail:
- 1½ oz. Bourbon
- ¾ oz. Turbinado Syrup
- ½ oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ oz. Crystal hot sauce
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- Garnish: 1 chile de arbol
Instructions:
Turbinado Syrup:
- Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil and stir occasionally.
- Reduce heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved and syrup has formed.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
Cocktail:
- Add ingredients (except for chile garnish) to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake until cold.
- Strain into an ice-filled glass and garnish with chile.