Bourbon cocktails are some of the most classic cocktails around, and there are plenty of different boozy, refreshing, and rich drinks that you can make with your favorite bourbon as the star. If you are interested in expanding your repertoire of bourbon cocktails with something easy to make and even easier to enjoy, you’re in the right place.
Our article will tell you more about bourbon, including the flavor profile and alcoholic content, as well as give you some of our favorite easy bourbon cocktail recipes.
Bourbon: What You Should Know
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that has been around since the 18th century. It was recognized as a distinctive product of the United States in 1964, and there is a set of standards that distillers must adhere to in order to craft true bourbon. Under these standards, bourbon whiskey must be created within the United States and contain a mash bill of at least 51 percent corn. Other grains may be used in the bourbon, including rye, barley, and wheat.
Bourbon is perceived as a classic drink, and it has stood the test of time. It is still popular today among whiskey enthusiasts, and it ranges in appearance from lighter gold to darker bronze and caramel colors depending on the mash bill of grains and the distiller.
While bourbon is often enjoyed straight and served neat or over ice, it also makes a great addition to cocktails, adding a boozy touch to a number of popular drinks.
What Is Bourbon’s Flavor Profile?
Bourbon has a slightly sweeter flavor profile than other types of whiskey, something that is caused by the corn utilized to make this liquor. Bourbon is also aged in charred oak barrels, something that can add a lot of smokey or woody flavors into the spirit, depending on how long the bourbon is aged.
In general, bourbon will have a flavor profile that is complete with notes of vanilla, caramel, maple, cedar, tobacco, butterscotch, and chocolate. However, the flavor profile of bourbon does change based on the distiller and the exact mash bill utilized to create this liquor. If you are interested in the flavor profile of a specific bottle of bourbon, you can consult the manufacturer’s website or the label on the bottle for more information.
What Is the Alcohol Content of Bourbon?
Bourbon has a relatively high alcoholic content, and this liquor does tend to be on the boozier side. The same standards that dictate the mash bill for bourbon also state that the alcoholic content of bourbon can be no less than 40 percent ABV. The highest alcoholic content of bourbon allowed is around 60 percent ABV.
What Goes Well With Bourbon?
Bourbon pairs well with a number of different foods and non-alcoholic mixers, and you can generally customize your bourbon experience to your preferences. As far as food to serve with straight bourbon or in a cocktail, you can try an assortment of dried meats, cheeses, and smoked items. Stone fruits pair particularly well with bourbon, as do sweets like cookies, chocolate truffles, and caramels.
When adding a mixer to your bourbon, you can opt for fresh water to open up the flavors of the liquor, or you can opt for tonic water if you prefer a slightly more tangy or bitter experience. Ginger beer and citruses like lemon and lime also pair well with bourbon, as do sweeter drinks such as lemon-lime soda and apple cider.
The Best Easy Bourbon Cocktails
There are plenty of different bourbon cocktails around today, though some are easier to make than others. Below, we give you an overview of the best easy-to-make bourbon cocktails.
Bourbon Smash
The bourbon smash utilizes bourbon instead of rye whiskey, though some bars may simply refer to this cocktail as a whiskey smash. Mint, sugar, and lemon bring out the refreshing, complex flavors of your chosen bourbon. For this recipe, you will need:
- 2 oz of bourbon
- .75 oz of simple syrup
- 1/2 of a lemon, cut into quarters
- 6 to 8 mint leaves
Add your lemon, mint leaves, and simple syrup into an empty cocktail shaker and muddle the ingredients together. Add your bourbon, fill the shaker with ice, and then shake until the drink is well combined. Strain your drink into a lowball glass filled with ice and garnish with mint and a lemon wedge, if desired.
Bourbon Old Fashioned
The old fashioned is one of the most popular whiskey-based cocktails around, and a bourbon old fashion highlights the flavors of your chosen bourbon with the pleasing complements of sugar and orange. For this recipe, you will need:
- 2 oz of bourbon
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp water
- A few dashes of Angostura bitters
Add your sugar, bitters, and water into a mixing glass and then stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add ice, and then pour in your bourbon. Stir gently until the drink is completely chilled, and then strain the drink into a rocks glass that has one large ice cube in it. Garnish with an orange wheel or orange slice.
Billionaire
A take on the Millionaire cocktail, slightly simpler but no less flavorful, the Billionaire cocktail features bourbon with the rich licorice flavor of absinthe bitters. For this recipe, you will need:
- 2 oz of bourbon
- 1 oz of lemon juice
- .5 oz of grenadine
- .5 oz of simple syrup
- A few drops of absinthe bitters
Gather all of your ingredients and add them into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well to combine, and then strain the drink into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Apple Toddy
Perfect for fall and cold weather, the apple toddy is a soothing, robust, and spiced drink with just enough sweetness to make each sip extra enjoyable. For this recipe, you will need:
- 1/2 of an apple, any variety
- 2 oz of bourbon
- 1 tsp of sugar
- 2 oz boiling water
- Grated nutmeg, for garnish (optional)
Peel and core your apple before wrapping half of your apple in wet parchment paper. Bake the apple in a 350-degree oven until completely soft, around 30 to 45 minutes. Warm your drink mug by rinsing it with warm or boiling water (be careful while handling it), and then add your baked apple and sugar to the mug.
Muddle the apple and sugar together, and then 1 ounce of boiling water. Stir your ingredients, and then add your bourbon. Stir again to combine, and top off with your second ounce of boiling water. Top the drink with grated nutmeg.
Bourbon Rickey
A twist on the popular gin rickey, this boozy and refreshing cocktail is perfect for beating the heat on a warm summer’s evening. For this recipe, you will need:
- 5 oz of bourbon
- 1/2 of a lime
- Sparkling water
Take a highball glass and fill it with ice before squeezing your half of a lime into the glass. Drop the lime into the glass and then pour in your bourbon. Top off the drink with sparkling water and give it a gentle stir before enjoying.
How to Serve a Bourbon Cocktail
Bourbon cocktails are typically served chilled or over ice, as this helps to bring out the best flavor in the liquor and mixers. You will generally need a cocktail shaker, strainer, and muddler for most bourbon cocktails, and you can choose to garnish with the hints of citrus or mint featured within your favorite easy bourbon cocktail recipe.
You will usually use a lowball glass to serve a bourbon cocktail, though martini glasses, coupe glasses, and highball glasses may all be used depending on the recipe. Enjoy your bourbon cocktail before dinner, during dinner, or as an after-dinner drink, and combine it with rich meats, a charcuterie board, or desserts like chocolates and caramels. The exact pairing will depend on the type of bourbon cocktail you have created.
Easy Bourbon Cocktails for Every Occasion
Bourbon cocktails are exceedingly popular, and many individuals love to add the sweet booziness of bourbon to their favorite drink recipes. The easy bourbon cocktails in our article are versatile and sure to fit every and any occasion where you might want to sip on a refreshing whiskey drink.
