19 Bourbon Cocktails for Starting Parties or Sipping Solo
Ask for bourbon cocktails and you shall receive bourbon cocktails—some of which are classics, some of which are more inventive riffs, and all of which are delicious.
First, a little lesson: All bourbon cocktails are whiskey cocktails, but not all whiskey cocktails are bourbon cocktails. In other words, bourbon is a type of whiskey. For bourbon to be bourbon, it must have a mash bill (the list of grains fermented as the first step of the whiskey-making process) containing at least 51% corn, which gives it its signature sweet flavor profile. Rye whiskey, by comparison, must be majority rye, making it taste grassy and dry, even a little spicy.
Now, here are 19 of our best bourbon cocktail recipes for your drinking pleasure.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson1/19Bourbon Fruit Tea Punch
Why not start with a bourbon cocktail recipe that serves eight people? This punch—made with bourbon and a fruity tea—is reason enough to throw a party. More of a milk punch person? Try this Seasonal Milk Punch recipe, which contains both bourbon and rum.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Drew Aichele, Prop Styling by Christina Allen3/19Paper Plane
This modern-day classic cocktail contains Aperol in equal parts with bourbon, lemon juice, and herbal Amaro Nonino. One sip and you’ll be glad it’s so easy to memorize.
Alex Lau4/19Bourbon & Tepache Cocktail
This drink pairs bourbon with tepache, a fermented spiced liqueur traditionally sold by street vendors in Mexico and often made with pineapple rinds or other fruit waste. If you don’t want to make it yourself, versions abound online.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott5/19Hot Toddy Pick-Me-Up
The hot toddy is not simply a mixture of hot water and booze. It’s a miracle worker, a doctor, and a life coach in a cup. (And although it does seem to do the trick for everything from a sore throat to a cough, it’s just as good when you’re healthy.)
Photo by Paul H. Christian, food styling by Michele Figliuolo6/19Whiskey Sour
Balance is key when it comes to the whiskey sour. You want hits of bright lemon juice, your favorite bourbon, and sweet simple syrup for a refreshing cocktail that is neither too cloying nor too biting. Classic versions often incorporate an egg white for body, but you really don’t need it.
Alex Lau8/19Spiced Pear and Bourbon Sparkler
You’ll need to get out your cocktail shaker for this boozy, sparkling sipper. We prefer a two-piece metal Boston shaker like this one from Cocktail Kingdom to do the job.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime9/19Amaro Hot Toddy
For those who don’t know, amari (the plural of amaro) are bitter tonics meant to be consumed after dinner. Italy is their birthplace, and while Italian amari still reign supreme, there’s good competition lately from American brands.
10/19Boulevardier
Two ounces of bourbon, one ounce of Campari, one of ounce sweet vermouth, a shaking tin, and a chilled coupe or rocks glass is all you need to make the boulevardier, a cousin of the negroni. Oh, and a lemon twist for garnish.
Bobbi Lin11/19Earl Grey–Bourbon Punch
Take teatime up a notch with a pour of bourbon, a splash of brandy, and a few shakes of bitters.
Peden & Munk13/19Batched Manhattan
A drink traditionally made with rye whiskey, this bourbon manhattan recipe serves four people at once—hence the four dashes of Angostura bitters, four orange twists, and four fresh cherries—but if you want a traditional recipe to serve just you and yourself, here’s a manhattan for one.
15/19Bill Heck’s Old-Fashioned
Who the heck is Bill Heck, you ask? He’s the father of former Bon Appétit editor Mary-Frances Heck—and his citrusy rendition of an old-fashioned packs a serious punch. Make it a tasting party with a few variations like this one spiked with a shot of espresso.
17/19Tamarind Whiskey Sour
Tamarind, a plump pod-like fruit with a sweet, tangy flavor, gives this bourbon cocktail both its tartness and its amaretto color. Honestly, what can’t tamarind do?
18/19The New York Sour
Bourbon and fruity red wine (Shiraz, Malbec, and the like)? Yes, this drink has both. In fact, whiskey and any red wine (port, perhaps) make a wonderful match.
Peden + Munk19/19Orange Mint Julep
There’s no orange juice in this bourbon cocktail, it’s orange syrup that’s to thank for bringing in the citrus flavor while keeping the drink visually clear (save for those muddled fresh mint leaves). If you want a more classic Kentucky Derby–style mint julep recipe, we’ve got you.
