No home bar is complete without a few bottles of bourbon. As the original American spirit, it’s one of the best for crafting cocktails that fit any taste preference. From sweet to savory, spicy to mellow, bourbon has the ability to shape-shift to match your mood. The key is knowing the ingredients that bring out its nuanced notes and having a few of the best bourbon cocktails on hand.
Outside of its storied history, bourbon is beloved for its rich flavor profile. Made from at least 51 percent corn, it has a sweetness and creaminess not found in other whiskies. But what makes it truly unique is the combination of grains that make up the rest of its mashbill. Whether barley, rye, or wheat, there’s lots of room for variation.
That same creativity extends to bourbon cocktails, which range in flavor, texture, and consistency. For this reason, bourbon drinks are a staple for meals, parties, or simple sipping. Ahead, we’ve gathered the best bourbon cocktails to add to your rolodex of recipes.
Best Bourbon Cocktail Recipes
Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of bourbon
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 large ice cube
- Orange slices and maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add bourbon, simple syrup, bitters, and water to glass with ice and stir until well mixed.
- Add the large ice cube to a fresh glass.
- Pour drink mixture of ice.
- Garnish with orange slices, maraschino cherry, and enjoy.
Honey Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce honey simple syrup
- Juice from 1 lemon
- Mint leaves or rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Add bourbon, honey simple syrup, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-mixed.
- Strain mixture into a glass with ice.
- Garnish with mint leaves or rosemary sprigs and enjoy.
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce egg white
- Few dashes of bitters for garnish
Instructions
- Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a shaker, and shake for 30 seconds or more until well combined.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake for an additional 20-30 seconds until well-chilled.
- Strain drink mixture into a glass either filled with ice or empty.
- Add a few dashes of bitters to top of the drink and enjoy.
Kentucky Mule
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3 ounces ginger beer
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Crushed ice
- Mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Add bourbon, ginger beer, and lime juice to a copper mug.
- Fill with crushed ice and stir until well-mixed.
- Garnish with mint leaves and enjoy.
Paper Plane
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce bourbon
- 3/4 ounce Aperol
- 3/4 ounce Amaro Nonino
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Pour drink mixture into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange twist, and enjoy.
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