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 is a popular bourbon co*cktail? ›

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.

What is the best bourbon for mixing co*cktails? ›

Woodford Reserve

It's no surprise that Woodford Reserve's easy-drinking straight bourbon whiskey was the most recommended bottle by our surveyed bartenders. “It's a real crowd-pleaser,” says Greene. “It has a slightly sweeter caramel-honey finish, and is a fantastic value.”

What is bourbon with a twist? ›

Method. In a large jug, combine the bourbon (or whiskey), lager, lemonade and lemon juice, then briefy stir. Add more lemonade and ice if you want to make it a little weaker.

What is the best bourbon for an Old Fashioned? ›

What is the best bourbon for making an Old Fashioned? If you're looking to make a delicious Old Fashioned co*cktail, some top choices for bourbon are the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, Jefferson's Tropics Aged in Humidity, and Larceny Straight Bourbon.

What is the oldest bourbon co*cktail? ›

Old Fashioned 1870s-1880s

Originally known as a Whiskey co*cktail, the Old Fashioned tag likely stuck some time in the 1870s or 1880s, when bartenders started making 'improved' versions with alternative spirits, drawing a distinction from the original, or 'old fashioned' style.

What is the smoothest easiest to drink bourbon? ›

“The best bourbon for beginners is Buffalo Trace,” says Shannon Tebay, head bartender at the American Bar at The Savoy in London. “It's bottled at 90 proof, giving it enough structure to stand up in a co*cktail without being so boozy that it's unpleasant on its own, especially with an ice cube or two.

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? ›

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 bourbon and ice called? ›

In every bar and distillery the term “on the rocks” means served with ice. So if you want to enjoy your whiskey with ice, “on the rocks” is the way to go.

What is the best sipping bourbon? ›

The Best Sipping Bourbons
  1. Old Forester 100 Proof. Image Source: https://www.oldforester.com/ ...
  2. Knob Creek 12. Image Source: https://www.knobcreek.com/ ...
  3. Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey. ...
  4. Heaven's Door Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. ...
  5. Maker's Mark 46. ...
  6. Four Roses Straight Bourbon Whiskey. ...
  7. Knobel Tennessee Whiskey.
Apr 13, 2024

What is the smoothest sweetest bourbon? ›

Top 5 Sweet Bourbons for the Dessert Lover
  • Satisfy that Sweet Tooth. In this article, we will: ...
  • I. Woodford Double Oaked. ...
  • II. Old Forester: 1910. ...
  • III. Garrison Brothers Honeydew Bourbon. ...
  • IV. Peerless Small Batch Bourbon. ...
  • V. Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof. ...
  • Enjoy Sunday Dessert with a Sip.
Jul 21, 2023

What are the classic co*cktails on bourbon Street? ›

It's quite a list, from a sazerac, to bourbon milk punch, Pimms cup, the grasshopper, hurricane, and of course, the hand grenade. Storied bars and restaurants are well known for their versions of these many classic drinks.

What is the most popular way to drink bourbon? ›

Bourbon purists drink their juice neat- which means it's served at room temperature without anything added.

How do you order a bourbon co*cktail? ›

When ordering a bourbon-based co*cktail, simply ask the bartender for the specific co*cktail you would like, using bourbon as the base spirit. Examples include a bourbon Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or Mint Julep. If you're uncertain which co*cktail to try, feel free to ask the bartender for their recommendation.

What should every bourbon drinker have? ›

We've curated a list of our favorite gifts for bourbon lovers (besides our own, of course).
  • MONOGRAM WHISKEY GLASSES.
  • THREE GLASS WHISKEY FLIGHT BOARD.
  • ENGRAVED DECANTER SET.
  • BOURBON NOSING KIT.
  • MIXOLOGY SET.
  • CRAFTHOUSE BY FORTESSA co*ckTAIL SMOKING BOX.
  • BOURBON BARREL STAVE WOOD SIGN.
  • BOURBON VANILLA SOAP.

References

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