Cocktails

The 15 Best Bourbon Cocktails

Bourbon cocktails are a fantastic introduction to America’s native spirit. Here are the best bourbon cocktail recipes to make at home.

By 

Meyme Nakash

 |  September 13, 2024

Bourbon is a type of whiskey that’s produced in the United States and aged for at least two years. It is sweeter than traditional whiskey because it’s made of at least 51% corn. This subtle sweetness makes it a wonderful base spirit for cocktails. Unlike other types of whiskey, which can age in Cognac or charred oak casks, bourbon must mature in new charred American oak barrels, resulting in a smooth, luxurious finish. The best bourbon brands stand out from one another by aging their blends for long periods of time. This extended maturation process can impart a bold oaky flavor to bourbon and create a harmony of vanilla, toffee, and sometimes, fruit notes. 

While the most expensive bourbons are best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, there are plenty of premium bourbons that are great for mixed drinks. If you’re not sure about what blend to use, read our suggestions here. Here are the best bourbon cocktail recipes that will deepen your appreciation for America’s native spirit. 

15 Best Bourbon Cocktails

Mint Julep

Kentucky is considered home to bourbon, although it can be produced anywhere in America. The mint julep is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, the annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky. This bourbon cocktail recipe is easy to make, featuring a simple combination of bourbon, sugar, fresh mint, and crushed ice. Just add the mint sprigs and sugar cubes or simple syrup to a cocktail glass and lightly muddle. Then, add the bourbon and crushed ice and stir. Garnish with a mint sprig. 

Ingredients

2 ½ oz bourbon
2 sugar cubes or ½ oz simple syrup
5 mint sprigs
Mint sprig for garnish

Boulevardier 

The Boulevardier is a spin on the classic Negroni, one of the most popular gin cocktails. It swaps gin for bourbon, but still retains the bitterness of Campari. The sweet vermouth pairs wonderfully with bourbon because it draws out its sweet notes of vanilla and toffee, making this a well-balanced cocktail. To prepare a Boulevardier, add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain the mixture into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Ingredients

1 oz Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon
¾ oz Campari
1 oz 1757 Vermouth di Torino Rosso
Orange twist for garnish

Old-Fashioned

An old-fashioned is one of the most iconic whiskey cocktails, and it is often made with bourbon. This bourbon cocktail recipe is simple, comprising sugar, Angostura bitters, and a little water. Since an old-fashioned requires only a few ingredients, it allows you to easily appreciate the rich flavor profile of bourbon. Therefore, we recommend using a premium bourbon for this recipe. First, add the sugar, bitters, and water into a mixing glass and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Second, add the bourbon and ice and stir again until the liquid is chilled. Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist and cherry.

Ingredients

1 tsp sugar
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp water
2 oz bourbon
Orange twist and cherry for garnish

Steam Engine 

Another take on the old-fashioned, the Steam Engine incorporates Bénédictine, a French liqueur made of herbs, berries, and spices. This gives it a slightly more earthy character, although it is still sweet enough to replace the sugar in an old-fashioned. To make this bourbon cocktail, add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain the liquid into a cocktail glass over a large ice cube and garnish with an orange peel.

Ingredients

2 oz Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon
½ oz Bénédictine
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange peel for garnish

Manhattan 

The Manhattan is an elegant cocktail that was first popularized in the 1880s. It typically consists of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. This rendition is sweeter because it uses bourbon, although the bitters balance it out. To make this cocktail, add all the ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir until the liquid is chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a Luxardo maraschino cherry.

Ingredients

1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 oz bourbon
Luxardo maraschino cherry for garnish

Paper Plane

Paper Plane is a creation from Sam Ross, co-owner of Attaboy, a world-renowned cocktail bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He created it in 2007 at its predecessor, Milk & Honey, and its name comes from one of the hottest songs that year, Paper Planes from MIA. It is made of equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and lemon juice. The inclusion of amaro, a bittersweet Italian herbal liqueur, makes this bourbon drink a fabulous digestif. To make this simple bourbon cocktail recipe, combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and then strain the mixture into a cocktail glass. 

Ingredients

¾ oz bourbon
¾ oz Aperol
¾ oz Amaro Nonino
¾ oz lemon juice 

Ranch Hand

This bourbon cocktail recipe from Frey Ranch Distillery is a spin on the Gold Rush cocktail, which calls for bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup. It incorporates aromatic bitters, although the choice of what kind of bitter is up to you. We recommend using Angostura bitters because it offsets the sweetness and acidity of bourbon without overpowering the drink. To make this cocktail, combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until the mixture is chilled and strain it into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Ingredients

1½ oz Frey Ranch Bourbon
¾ oz Fresh lemon juice
½ oz honey syrup (2:1 honey to warm water)
Dash of aromatic bitters

Double Oaked Espresso Manhattan

Bourbon is a fantastic base spirit for coffee cocktails. The Double Oaked Espresso Manhattan calls for Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon, which features a lovely bouquet of caramel, vanilla, and honey apple notes with a smooth, oaky finish. Its bitter aroma and sweetness make it the perfect post-dinner drink. To make this cocktail, add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until the mixture is chilled. Double-strain it into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon peel or espresso beans.

Ingredients

1 oz Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
¾ oz coffee liqueur
¼ oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Lemon peel or espresso beans for garnish

Prickly Pear Fizz

Bourbon and pears are a duo often associated with fall and winter cocktails, but the Prickly Pear Fizz’s citrus character makes it more suitable for warmer weather. First, combine the bourbon and lime juice in a highball glass. Second, add equal parts prickly pear sparkling water and orange soda and stir with a bar spoon. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or a fresh blackberry.

Ingredients

1½ oz Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon
½ oz lime juice
Prickly pear sparkling water
Orange soda
Fresh blackberry for garnish

Kentucky Mule

The Kentucky Mule is a fresh take on the Moscow Mule, a classic vodka cocktail. The bold flavor of ginger ale pulls out the spiciness of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight bourbon. This recipe also incorporates orange bitters to balance out the bourbon’s sweet flavors of toffee, caramel, and chocolate. First, add the bourbon, orange bitters, and lime juice to an ice-filled copper mug. Mix with a bar spoon and then top it off with ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Ingredients

1½ oz Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
2 dashes Woodford Reserve Orange Bitters
½ oz fresh lime juice
3 oz ginger ale
Lime wedge for garnish

Blackberry Smash

The Blackberry Smash is a refreshing and balanced drink that is perfect for the spring and summertime. This bourbon cocktail recipe is easy to make. First, muddle the lime juice, blackberries, and mint together in a mixing glass. Second, add the bourbon and simple syrup and stir. Add the mixture to a cocktail glass filled with crushed ice and top with soda water. Garnish with mint leaves and blackberries.

Ingredients

2 fresh lime wedges squeezed
8 fresh blackberries
5 large mint leaves
2 oz Frey Ranch Bourbon
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz soda water

Box of Chocolates Old-Fashioned

If you’re looking for an old-fashioned that’s on the sweeter side, this recipe is for you. It calls for chocolate bitters instead of Angostura bitters, which complements the sweet tartness of the dried cherry and stone fruit notes in Cedar Ridge Port Cask bourbon. To make this twist on a classic, rub an orange peel across the inside of a cocktail glass. Then, add all the ingredients and a large ice cube and stir with a bar spoon. Garnish with an orange peel and cherry.

Ingredients

2 dashes chocolate bitters
2 oz Cedar Ridge Port Cask Bourbon
½ oz demerara simple syrup
Orange peel and cherry for garnish

New York Sour

This cocktail pays homage to the vibrant streets of New York City. It is similar to a classic whiskey sour, although it incorporates a fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel. If you’re not sure which wine to use, check out our comprehensive guide to the types of dry red wine. First, add all of the ingredients, except the red wine, to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Second, shake and strain into a cocktail glass with fresh ice. Pour the wine slowly into the glass over the back of a spoon; it should appear as though the wine is floating on top of the drink. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
1 oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
2 tbsp red wine
Lemon peel for garnish 

Hot Toddy

A hot toddy is one of the best hot cocktails to enjoy après-ski or at a holiday gathering. While the original recipe calls for whiskey, you can use bourbon instead for a sweeter taste. This bourbon cocktail recipe requires a few ingredients that you probably already have in your home. First, stir the honey and water in a glass mug until the honey dissolves. Second, add the bourbon and stir. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon peel.

Ingredients

3 tbsp bourbon
1 tbsp honey
½ c hot water
Cinnamon stick and lemon peel for garnish

Always Daydreaming

This large-batch Prosecco cocktail is a fantastic refresher to serve at a backyard gathering. The fruitiness of Old Elk Blended Straight bourbon and Prosecco pair well with the tart acidity of the lime and grapefruit juice. Combine all the ingredients, except for the Prosecco, in a pitcher and stir. Add ice to the pitcher before serving. Pour the liquid into a cocktail glass with fresh ice and top with Prosecco. Garnish with fresh raspberries and a mint sprig.

Ingredients 

(serves 8)
12 oz Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon
1 oz fresh lime juice
12 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (3 grapefruits)
8 oz raspberry syrup
Prosecco
Raspberries and mint sprig for garnish

What Is the Best Bourbon for Cocktails?

The type of bourbon you should use for cocktails really depends on the recipe. For simple drinks with few ingredients, like an old-fashioned, we recommend using premium bourbons that are aged for years since you’ll be able to appreciate the bourbon’s rich flavor nuances. Jefferson’s Ocean Aged Cask Strength Barrel Select and Booker’s Springfield Batch are two excellent options. Other bourbon cocktail recipes with lots of ingredients should be prepared with mid-tiered expressions, such as Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, that still have bourbon’s sweet and oaky character but are younger and more affordable. That way, the flavors imparted from a longer maturation process aren’t masked by other ingredients and won’t go to waste. 

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