The 25 Best Bourbon Cocktails

Welcome to the ultimate guide to bourbon cocktails! Whether you're a bourbon enthusiast or just trying to sharpen your cocktail-making skills, this article is your gateway to mastering the art of bourbon mixology. We've curated a list of 25 exquisite bourbon cocktails, complete with recipes, to elevate your home bartending skills and impress your guests.

Article Summary:

• Introduction to the allure of bourbon cocktails
• 25 unique bourbon cocktail recipes
• Tips on selecting the perfect bourbon for each cocktail

I. The Art of Bourbon Cocktails

A. Why Bourbon Makes the Perfect Cocktail Base

Bourbon's rich, versatile flavor profile makes it an ideal base for a variety of cocktails, from refreshing summer sips to cozy winter warmers.

B. Selecting the Right Bourbon

We'll guide you through choosing the perfect bourbon for each cocktail, featuring brands like Buffalo Trace, Angel’s Envy, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and Wild Turkey 101.

II. The 25 Best Bourbon Cocktails

A. Classic Cocktails

1. Mint Julep

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon, fresh mint leaves, 1 tsp sugar, crushed ice
   • Method: Muddle mint and sugar, add bourbon, fill with crushed ice, stir, and garnish with a mint sprig.

2. Old Fashioned

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 1 sugar cube, few dashes of Angostura bitters, orange twist
   • Method: Dissolve sugar with bitters, add bourbon, stir, and serve over ice with an orange twist.

3. Whiskey Sour

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon, ¾ oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, egg white (optional)
   • Method: Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, and garnish with a lemon slice.

B. Refreshing Twists

4. Bourbon Lemonade

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, 6 oz lemonade, lemon slices, mint
   • Method: Mix bourbon and lemonade, serve over ice, garnish with lemon and mint.

5. Bourbon Ginger Smash

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Angel’s Envy Bourbon, ½ oz lime juice, ginger beer, mint leaves
   • Method: Muddle mint, add bourbon and lime juice, top with ginger beer, garnish with mint.

C. Innovative Creations

6. Kentucky Mule

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, ½ oz lime juice, ginger beer
   • Method: Combine bourbon and lime juice in a mule mug, top with ginger beer, garnish with a lime wedge.

7. Apple Cider Bourbon

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon, hot apple cider, cinnamon stick
   • Method: Pour bourbon into a mug, top with hot apple cider, garnish with a cinnamon stick.

D. Warm and Comforting

8. Hot Toddy

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon, 1 tbsp honey, ½ lemon juice, hot water
   • Method: Combine bourbon, honey, lemon juice in a mug, top with hot water, stir well.

9. Bourbon Spiked Coffee

   • Ingredients: 2 oz Angel’s Envy Bourbon, hot coffee, whipped cream
   • Method: Pour bourbon into a mug of hot coffee, top with whipped cream.

E. Unique Concoctions

10. Paper Plane

    • Ingredients: ¾ oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, ¾ oz Aperol, ¾ oz Amaro Nonino, ¾ oz lemon juice
    • Method: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a coupe glass.

11. Bourbon Honey Bee

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon, ¾ oz honey syrup, ½ oz lemon juice
    • Method: Shake bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice with ice, strain into a rocks glass.

12. Bourbon Peach Tea

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon, iced tea, peach slices
    • Method: Fill a glass with ice, add bourbon, top with iced tea, garnish with peach slices.

13. Kentucky Derby

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, ½ oz maple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, orange peel
    • Method: Stir bourbon, maple syrup, bitters, strain into a glass, garnish with orange peel.

14. Manhattan

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Angel’s Envy Bourbon, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • Method: Stir ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled glass, garnish with a cherry.

15. Bourbon Sour

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 1 oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup
    • Method: Shake ingredients with ice, strain into a glass, garnish with a lemon twist.

16. Bourbon and Ginger

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon, ginger ale
    • Method: Pour bourbon over ice, top with ginger ale, garnish with a lime wedge.

17. Maple Bourbon Smash

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon, ½ oz maple syrup, lemon juice, mint leaves
    • Method: Muddle mint and lemon, add bourbon and syrup, shake, strain into a glass with ice.

18. Blackberry Bourbon Smash

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, blackberries, lemon juice, simple syrup
    • Method: Muddle blackberries, add bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup, shake, strain over ice.

19. Bourbon Iced Tea

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Angel’s Envy Bourbon, iced tea, lemon slices
    • Method: Combine bourbon and iced tea in a glass, garnish with lemon slices.

20. Bourbon Mojito

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, club soda
    • Method: Muddle mint, lime, and syrup, add bourbon, top with club soda, garnish with mint.

21. Spiced Bourbon Cider

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon, hot apple cider, cinnamon, star anise
    • Method: Combine bourbon and hot cider in a mug, add spices.

22. Bourbon Fizz

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon, 1 oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, club soda
    • Method: Shake bourbon, lemon juice, syrup, strain into a glass, top with club soda.

23. Bourbon Pecan Pie

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, pecan liqueur, brown sugar syrup
    • Method: Mix bourbon, pecan liqueur, syrup, serve over ice.

24. Bourbon Apple Spritzer

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Angel’s Envy Bourbon, apple juice, club soda, apple slices
    • Method: Mix bourbon and apple juice, top with club soda, garnish with apple slices.

25. Cherry Bourbon Fizz

    • Ingredients: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, cherry juice, lemon juice, club soda
    • Method: Shake bourbon, cherry and lemon juices, strain into a glass, top with club soda.

II. Where to Buy Top-Quality Bourbons

Explore wide selection of bourbon and other whiskies here, at The Barrel Tap, where we deliver right to your door! Find the best selections of Buffalo Trace, Angel’s Envy, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and Wild Turkey 101 at competitive prices.

Embrace the art of bourbon cocktail crafting with this comprehensive guide. Remember, the perfect cocktail is not just about the recipe; it's about the passion and creativity you pour into it. Happy mixing and, as always, please drink responsibly!