15 Great Bourbon Cocktail Recipes to Try Now
Are you a fan of bourbon? Do you love the smooth and complex flavour that this spirit has to offer? If so, then you’re in luck! Bourbon is an excellent base spirit for cocktails, and there are countless ways to mix it with other ingredients to create delicious and satisfying drink. In this article, we’ll share 15 great bourbon cocktail recipes that can assure you that these drinks are sure to impress!
History of Bourbon Cocktails
Bourbon, known as the “honest” spirits is a type of whisky that originated in Fayette County of Virginia in the late 18th century, founded by Reverend Craig. It was named after the Revolutionary War general, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, who defied King Louis XVI of the French royal House of Bourbon, by going to America to fight against the British.
Bourbon quickly became popular in the United States, and today it is enjoyed by people all over the world and continues to be a favorite spirit among cocktail enthusiasts, and its smooth, sweet flavor profile makes it a great addition to a wide range of cocktails.
Classic Bourbon Cocktails
1. Old Fashioned Bourbon
This classic cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Orange peel
- Ice
Directions:
- Place the sugar cube in a glass and add the bitters.
- Muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add ice and pour in the bourbon.
- Stir gently and garnish with an orange peel.
2. Manhattan
This classic cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Cherry
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain into a glass and garnish with a cherry.
3. Mint Julep
This classic cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 6-8 mint leaves
- Crushed ice
Directions:
- Muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup in a glass.
- Add crushed ice and pour in the bourbon.
- Stir well and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Unique Bourbon Cocktails
4. Kentucky Mule
This unique cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Ginger beer
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon and lime juice in a glass.
- Add ice and top with ginger beer.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
5. Whisky Sour with a Twist
This unique cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz honey syrup
- 1/2 oz ginger liqueur
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain into a glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
6. Boulevardier
This unique cocktail is made up with:
- 1 1/2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- Orange peel
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain into a glass and garnish with an orange peel
Sweet Bourbon Cocktails
7. Sweet Bourbon Cocktails
This sweet cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz peach syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Sweet tea
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon, peach syrup, and lemon juice in a glass.
- Add ice and top with sweet tea.
- Stir gently and garnish with a peach slice.
8. Maple Bourbon Smash
This sweet cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz maple syrup
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 2-3 mint leaves
- Ice
Directions:
- Muddle the mint leaves, maple syrup, and lemon juice in a glass.
- Add ice and pour in the bourbon.
- Stir well and garnish with a mint sprig.
9. Spiced Apple Bourbon Sangria
This sweet cocktail is made up with:
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 pear
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Directions:
- In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, bourbon, apple cider, and honey.
- Stir until the honey is dissolved.
- Add the sliced apple, pear, cinnamon stick, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Strong Bourbon Cocktails
10. Bourbon & Ginger Beer
This strong cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- Ginger beer
- Ice
Directions:
- Pour the bourbon into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge.
11. Bourbon Lemonade
This strong cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Club soda
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a glass.
- Add ice and top with club soda.
- Stir gently and garnish with a lemon slice.
12. Bourbon Bloody Mary
This strong cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 4 oz tomato juice
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp hot sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with a celery stick.
Seasonal Bourbon Cocktails
13. Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
This seasonal cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz apple cider
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz maple syrup
- Cinnamon sugar
- Ice
Directions:
- Rim a glass with cinnamon sugar.
- Combine the bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Strain into the glass and garnish with an apple slice.
14. Holiday Bourbon Punch
This seasonal cocktail is made up with:
- 1 bottle bourbon
- 4 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 cloves
- 1 orange, sliced
- Ice
Directions:
- In a large punch bowl, combine all ingredients except the ice.
- Stir well until the honey is dissolved.
- Add ice and stir again.
- Garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
15. Blackberry Bourbon Fizz
This seasonal cocktail is made up with:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz blackberry syrup
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Club soda
- Ice
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice in a glass.
- Add ice and top with club soda.
- Stir gently and garnish with a blackberry and a sprig of thyme.
In conclusion, bourbon is a versatile and delicious spirit that can be used to make a wide variety of cocktails. These 15 great bourbon cocktail recipes are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ways that bourbon can be mixed with other ingredients to create a delicious and satisfying drink. Whether you’re looking for a classic bourbon cocktail or something a little more unique, these recipes are sure to impress. So go ahead and give them a try - you won’t be disappointed!
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