Summer Bourbon Cocktails: Five Refreshing Recipes

There’s nothing quite like a delicious and refreshing cocktail to beat the heat of the summer. While bourbon cocktails are often considered a cozy winter drink, bourbon as a liquor is surprisingly versatile and perfect for creating delicious, refreshing cocktails to help you cool off on a summer day.

Our article will list several summer bourbon cocktails and give a general overview of bourbon to help you craft your own cocktails for summer.

Bourbon: What You Should Know

Bourbon is a type of whiskey primarily made from corn. For a whiskey to be considered bourbon, it must have a mash bill of at least 51% corn. However, most bourbons use a lot more than the minimum required amount, usually around 70%. Additionally, bourbon whiskey must be at least 80 proof/40% ABV and can be up to around 120 proof/60% ABV.

Although many enjoy drinking bourbon neat, as with other types of whiskey, its complex taste makes it a versatile base for all kinds of cocktails. Some of the most notable bourbon cocktails are Old Fashioned, Bourbon Sour, and Bourbon Manhattan.

Here’s a brief description of bourbon’s flavor profile. Understanding its taste can help you determine what kinds of summer cocktails you can make with it.

What Is Bourbon’s Flavor Profile?

With a high percentage of corn in its mashbill, bourbon whiskey has a sweet, complex taste. You can find hints of vanilla, oak, leather, corn pudding, cinnamon, baking spices, caramel, and many other aromas.

Depending on the bourbon you use for a summer cocktail, some flavors may be highlighted more than others. Generally, older bourbons have a more complex, richer flavor profile. These bourbons can give the summer bourbon cocktail you’re preparing a more flavorful aroma.

However, you don’t need anything fancy to make a delicious summer bourbon cocktail. Even bottom-shelf bottles will get the job done when you want to make a quick summer cocktail.

What Is the Alcohol Content of Bourbon?

As previously mentioned above, bourbon’s alcohol content must be 40%/80 proof or higher. Anything under 40% ABV won’t be considered whiskey anymore. While many bourbon whiskey brands have products around 40% ABV, most bourbon whiskey in the market tends to go up to 50% ABV.

What Goes Well With Bourbon?

Bourbon is an adaptable liquor that pairs well with a wide variety of ingredients. This versatility makes bourbon an excellent spirit for making summer cocktails to your liking.

However, since we’re making summer cocktails, you should avoid anything that adds warmth to your drink. You want your summer bourbon cocktail to be as refreshing as possible to beat the heat of a summer day. With this in mind, here are some of the best ingredients that go well with bourbon to make a summer cocktail.

• Standard Mixers: First and foremost, any standard mixer will go great with bourbon for a summer cocktail. Soda water, cola, apple cider, iced tea, and tonic water are all excellent ingredients for a fantastic summer bourbon cocktail.
• Citrus: Lemon, lime, and orange juice are perfect ingredients for a summer bourbon cocktail that adds a nice acidity, sweetness, and tanginess.
• Fruits: Bourbon pairs the best with cranberries, pomegranate, and berries, as well as the juices of these fruits.
• Bitters: Bourbon goes well with many kinds of bitters, but the best choice for a summer cocktail is an aromatic bitter that matches the cocktail you’re making. For example, orange bitters can enhance the subtle citrus notes of certain ingredients.
• Herbs: Although mint is the preferred herb when it comes to summer cocktails, tarragon, rosemary, and basil – pretty much any herb that you enjoy and would like to have in your summer cocktail will pair well with bourbon.

The Best Summer Bourbon Cocktails

Now that you have a better understanding of bourbon as a liquor and what pairs well with it, here are some of the most favored summer bourbon cocktails. We’ll include a detailed recipe for each summer bourbon cocktail, along with the best garnishes and how to serve.

Bourbon Sour

Bourbon Sour is a classic cocktail that can make a great summer drink for those looking for a sweet cocktail that’s not overpowering. It’s also a versatile summer bourbon cocktail you can adjust to your liking.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon
• 1 ounce of fresh lemon juice
• ½ ounce of simple syrup or ½ teaspoon of fine sugar
• Ice

How to Make

1. Fill the shaker halfway with ice.
2. Pour in bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and the sweetener to your liking.
3. Shake and strain into a glass with a few ice cubes.
4. Garnish with a slice of orange or cherry.

Optionally, you can add egg white for a foamy texture, but it’s best to skip it for a summer bourbon cocktail. The frothiness that egg white brings suits winter cocktails better.

Mint Julep

Mint Julep is one of the best summer bourbon cocktails if you want something quick and refreshing. This summer, bourbon cocktails are more for those who enjoy minty flavors and the taste of bourbon. It’s also straightforward to make, with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon
• ¼ to ½ ounce of simple syrup
• 6-10 fresh mint leaves
• Crushed ice

How to Make

1. Start by adding fresh mint leaves and simple syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass.
2. Lightly crush the mint leaves to bring out their flavor and oils.
3. Fill the cup with bourbon and crushed ice.
4. Stir everything well until the cup is frosty on the outside.
5. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Bourbon Manhattan

Bourbon Manhattan is another classic cocktail perfect for drinking on a hot summer day. It’s a well-balanced cocktail that pairs the complex flavors of bourbon with herbal undertones of sweet vermouth. Although mastering this cocktail can take a few tries, it’s one of the best summer bourbon cocktails you shouldn’t hesitate to try.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon
• 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
• 2 to 3 dashes of aromatic bitters
• Ice

How to Make

1. Add bourbon, sweet vermouth, aromatic bitters, and a few ice cubes into a glass.
2. Gently stir for about 30 seconds. While doing it, pay attention and do not water down the drink.
3. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Kentucky Mule

Kentucky Mule is Moscow Mule but with bourbon instead of vodka. Everything else is the same with this bourbon cocktail that makes a refreshing summer drink. You can easily make this summer bourbon cocktail at home in just a few minutes using only three ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon
• 4 ounces of ginger beer
• ½ ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice

How to Make

1. In a glass, add bourbon, ginger beer, and lime juice.
2. Add as much ice as desired.
3. Garnish with a lime wedge or fresh mint leaves.

Bourbon Lemonade

Any lemonade is an excellent drink for summer, so why not try Bourbon Lemonade? It’s an extremely easy summer bourbon cocktail to make as long as you have some fresh lemonade. It only calls for some bourbon, lemonade, and ice.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of bourbon
• 5 ounces of homemade lemonade
• Ice

How to Make

1. In a glass or shaker, combine bourbon, lemonade, and ice.
2. Stir or shake until cold.
3. Garnish with lemon peel or fresh mint leaves.

How to Serve a Summer Bourbon Cocktail

Summer bourbon cocktails are generally easy to make and don’t require any fancy tools. As long as you serve them with plenty of ice with appropriate garnishes for a visual appeal, you’re good to go. For the cocktails we’ve covered in our article, you can simply use a rocks glass for all, except for Bourbon Manhattan, which is best served in a martini glass.

As for food pairing, light and fresh foods, such as fruits, salads, seafood, and grilled vegetables, go best with summer cocktails. Avoid anything that can be too heavy, such as processed and greasy foods.

Refresh Your Summer With Bourbon Cocktails

Although less popular than vodka or tequila cocktails, bourbon can be an excellent spirit for summer drinks. If you enjoy the woody and smoky aroma of bourbon with a hint of sweetness, adding some ice and flavoring agents will make an excellent cocktail to take the day’s heat.

We’ve covered a wide range of bourbon cocktails you can make at home, from easy-to-make ones like Kentucky Mule to ones that require a few tries to master, like Bourbon Manhattan. Regardless of the summer bourbon cocktail recipe that attracts you, get your supply of bourbon whiskey from our collection. We ship to most states where you can buy alcohol online.