You might think of bourbon as a classy drink you sip on the rocks, but there’s way more you can do with it. Good quality bourbons are a great addition to a variety of different cocktails. Add a creative flair and impress guests at your next party with one (or more) of these delicious recipes.
The (Slightly Updated) Classic Bourbon Sour
If you’re looking for a simple drink, this classic cocktail is all about easy balance. Traditional whiskey sours have straightforward ingredients that give just enough sweetness to cut the sour of lemon. Frothy egg white adds a silkiness that softens the drink’s texture. Try Wild Turkey’s Long Branch Bourbon Whiskey for this one. It’s balanced and smooth like a sour should be, with a subtly sweet and smokey finish.
The Classic Bourbon Sour recipe has:
- Two ounces of bourbon
- One ounce of fresh lemon juice
- Half an ounce of simple syrup
- One tablespoon of egg white
- Citrus or cherry garnish
- The bourbon, lemon, syrup, and egg white get shaken (not stirred) twice. First, shake without ice to foam up the egg white. Then, add ice and shake again until chilled.
Step up the flavor profile with a twist of orange and a cherry. Sweet citrus maintains balance with the smokey notes of the Long Branch bourbon. For the best sipping experience, serve sours on the rocks.
Hibiscus Ginger Kentucky Mule
Your eccentric friends will appreciate this vibrant cocktail. It features Three Chord Twelve Bar Reserve Bourbon Whiskey which has spicy, earthy flavors of vanilla, clove, and sweet honey. This creates a complex, musical flavor when paired with floral hibiscus, bright lime citrus, and peppery ginger. Piney cardamom and sour grapefruit bitters bring a fruity balance to the equation, making this recipe an exciting journey from aroma to finish. Here’s what’s in the
The Hibiscus Ginger Kentucky Mule recipe has:
- 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon
- 1/2 ounce of hibiscus ginger simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce of lime juice
- 7 drops of cardamom bitters
- 14 drops of grapefruit bitters
- Ginger beer
- Mint garnish
- Add all the ingredients except the ginger beer to a mule mug and give it a quick stir. Fill it with ice, and top it off with the beer and another swirl. Garnish it with mint for an extra pop of brightness.
- Want your drink extra zesty? Add a few drops of room-temperature water to the bourbon before mixing to reveal a strong peppercorn character.
Yellow Chartreuse Manhattan
Save this recipe for your next sophisticated soiree. Chartreuse is a potent liqueur made with herbs, plants, and flowers. Although it’s tricky to pair its powerful flavor with other spirits, Chartreuse is versatile. Gin is the most common pairing, but bourbon works surprisingly well, too.
Green Chartreuse is the original, more popular version. Yellow Chartreuse is made with the same ingredients, but it’s mellower and sweeter. The herbal notes pair excellently with rich, cocoa flavors. Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon is a perfect match because it has a sweet, chocolate taste balanced with bold spiciness. To finish, the Stagg leaves a smoky hint of cherries and cloves.
This recipe uses a unique bourbon and liqueur that you might not be able to find at your local liquor store. Shopping online is the way to go if you’re looking to find rare bourbons for sale.
The Yellow Chartreuse Manhattan has:
- 1 1/2 ounces of Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon
- 1 ounce of Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth
- 1/2 ounce of Yellow Chartreuse
- 1/4 ounce of simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Orange peel garnish
- Add all of the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled. Use a julep strainer to pour the drink into a cocktail glass. Twist the orange peel over it and serve.
In Summary
Whether you’re looking for a classic vibe or trying to impress your guests with something new, give these recipes a try. Each one thoughtfully pairs high-quality bourbon with its flavor soulmate and won’t disappoint.
