Mixology

26 Refreshing Bourbon Cocktails To Sip in 2024

by: Ashley Reut

Last Updated on Oct 1st 2024

There’s something so comforting about good bourbon cocktails. Some people insist that bourbon should be served neat or on the rocks exclusively, but it blends so seamlessly into bourbon cocktails that are sweet, tart and a little spicy that one can’t help but feel it was destined for so much more. So what do you mix with bourbon? This brown liquor seems to warm you from the inside out, often with notes of vanilla, caramel and spice that pair perfectly with cinnamon, honey and a wide variety of fruits to make delightful mixed drinks you can sip on any time of year.

There are the classic bourbon cocktails and combinations that you’ve heard of — whiskey sour, mint julep and, of course, a hot toddy — but this versatile spirit can be surprisingly mellow and smooth. Bourbon and whiskey are both similar and different, but for the purposes of refreshing beverages and the best cocktails, they can be used interchangeably here.

Food & Wine details everything you need to know about how all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon, if you’re curious. For now, you can discover some new, tasty Thanksgiving cocktails to spice up your holiday get-togethers. But this brown liquor isn’t just for falling temps, it’s perfectly refreshing to mix up multiple summer bourbon cocktails! For Friday night at home, a special date or a friendly get-together, you’ve already nailed your cocktail party attire, now it’s time to master the perfect bourbon cocktail. If you prefer whiskey, then check out our article on the best whiskey cocktails to explore.

Classic Bourbon Cocktails

1. Boulevardier

This Negroni spin-off is a delightfully bitter and classic bourbon cocktail. Perfect for sipping before or during dinner, it’s made from equal parts Campari and vermouth with just a touch more bourbon than anything else. Garnish it with an orange twist and enjoy over ice. You can learn to make fantastic cocktails just like this with online mixology classes at home, or by attending one where you live, like mixology classes in Los Angeles or mixology classes in the Bay Area.

2. Millionaire

These punchy bourbon cocktails are thought to have originated during Prohibition, making it about as classic as it gets. Combine bourbon with some good quality grenadine, Grand Marnier, absinthe or pastis and an egg white to make it nice and foamy. Shake it vigorously with ice and serve it up in a martini glass. Make it a billionaire by using extra high-proof bourbon.

3. Gold Rush

What are the top bourbon cocktails? The Gold Rush is one of the most popular. One of the easiest and most classic bourbon cocktails to whip up any time of year, it’s especially delicious in the Fall. Whisk together honey and warm water to make your own honey syrup, then combine that with fresh lemon juice and whiskey. Stick to a lighter, younger whiskey to let the other delicate flavors shine.

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4. Kentucky Mule

The Moscow mule is a beloved beverage all year round, and these easy and classic bourbon cocktails are just as easy. Combine perfectly spiced ginger beer with fresh lime juice and a stiff pour of whiskey or bourbon and enjoy in a copper mug.

Easy Bourbon Cocktails

5. Bourbon Milk Punch

Creamy cocktails are always delicious, but these particularly easy bourbon cocktails feel extra cozy in the fall and winter months. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whole milk, bourbon, vanilla bean paste or extract and simple syrup and shake until combined. Garnish with some freshly grated nutmeg for a festive holiday drink you can make with ingredients you likely have on hand.

6. Bourbon Sidecar

The Sidecar is a classic cocktail, traditionally served with brandy, orange liquor and lemon juice, that also works as a bourbon cocktail. Swap the brandy for bourbon to add a little spice and don’t forget to garnish with a lemon twist. There’s no need to pay $20 on a drink at your local bar when you can attend mixology classes in Chicago or mixology classes in Washington, D.C. and learn the secrets to perfectly balanced drinks at home.

7. Paper Plane

If you’ve never had a classic Paper Plane, you’re missing out. Made of equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Nonino Amaro Quintessentia (bittersweet Italian liqueur) and freshly-squeezed lemon juice, it’s refreshing but has a bit of body. This bourbon cocktail is perfect for Summer and into Fall. Pro tip: Shake it enough to combine but not enough to water it down. Select a slightly stronger bourbon to add more body.

8. Tipsy Arnold Palmer

The perfect Summer sipper is a refreshing iced Arnold Palmer with a splash or two of good bourbon. John Daly prefers his with vodka, but bourbon adds a richness that pairs perfectly with the brewed tea.

Sweet Bourbon Cocktails

9. Passionfruit Bourbon Sour

You’ll just need one extra ingredient to put a sweet and tropical spin on the classic whiskey sour. Passionfruit syrup can be made from scratch with very little trouble, as long as you can find passionfruit or passionfruit purée. Shake it up with egg white, lemon juice, a dash of bitters and your favorite bourbon for one of the most velvety and sweet bourbon cocktails ever.

10. Bourbon Cocoa Cider

These sweet bourbon cocktails will help you welcome Fall with a smooth and creamy drink that will warm you up. Heat your favorite cider and combine it with some bourbon and a little creme de cacao with a dash of bitters. Garnish with an orange twist or maybe even some freshly grated chocolate.

11. Brown Sugar Bourbon Smash

Brown sugar pairs perfectly with the natural notes of cinnamon and vanilla found in many bourbons and bourbon cocktails. Shake together bourbon with a splash of homemade brown sugar syrup and your favorite ginger beer. Garnish with an apple slice and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a festive fall bourbon cocktail.

12. Cherry Bourbon Smash

It’s worth the extra effort to pit your cherries for this sweet bourbon cocktail. Lightly muddle cherries with a bit of fresh basil, lemons, bourbon and some homemade honey syrup before straining and serving over a large ice cube with fresh basil to garnish. Don’t over muddle your ingredients or you’ll bring out bitterness from the lemon pith.

13. Bourbon Sour with Honey Plum Syrup

These bourbon cocktails get a little sweetness from sweet, juicy plums that have been reduced with honey to make a flavorful syrup. Combine your syrup with bourbon, fresh lime juice and a dash of bitters before pouring over ice. Serve with a pleasantly purple plum slice.

Fruity Bourbon Cocktails

14. New York Sour

Your typical whiskey sour gets a colorful and fruity disguise as something much more complex in these delightful bourbon cocktails. The base is made from whiskey or bourbon shaken vigorously with lemon juice and simple syrup or a dash of maple syrup. Pour that over ice, then slowly add a red wine floater for a pop of bold red and some earthiness to balance the fruity and tart flavors.

15. Haystack

Summer fruits shine in this bourbon cocktail, made with apricot liqueur, lemon juice and Suze. It’s fairly sour and has a beautiful orange hue to it. Garnish with a dried apricot and savor this aperitif before dinner.

16. Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Cocktail

The ever-popular spicy margarita has a little competition with this sweet bourbon cocktail that packs a little kick. Muddle strawberries, lime and as many jalapeno slices as you desire with your favorite bourbon. Pour it over ice and top it with ginger beer in a glass with a tajin rim. This summer sipper is big on color and flavor.

17. Brown Derby

Sweet maple syrup and tart grapefruit juice are the perfect pair in this fruity bourbon cocktail. Shaken with your favorite bourbon and garnished with a twist of lemon, it’s perfect to start or end the night.

18. Bourbon Peach Smash

If you haven’t already picked up on a theme, fruity bourbon cocktails are plentiful and follow a fairly basic formula. Add a sweet, ripe fruit of your choice, in this case peaches, muddled with mint leaves and some simple syrup. Add bourbon and give it a shake, then strain over ice. Top with seltzer, club soda or ginger beer and enjoy. Don’t forget a fresh mint leaf or two to garnish. This is one for those who enjoy rum cocktails.

Summer Bourbon Cocktails

19. Mint Julep

The mint julep is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby, but it doesn’t have to be the first Saturday in May to sip on one of these refreshing and sweet summer bourbon cocktails. Traditionally made with crushed ice, you’ll want to use something higher proof to stand up to dilution from melting. Lots of fresh mint leaves and some simple syrup are muddled and mixed for a fancy summer cocktail. It's similar to a Southside, one of the best gin cocktails.

20. Kentucky Maid

Cool off with a summer bourbon cocktail known as the Kentucky Maid. Muddle cucumbers and mint leaves with a dash of simple syrup, then shake with your favorite bourbon. Serve chilled for a seasonal refreshment that’s a little change of pace.

21. Golden Hour

These summer bourbon cocktails are essentially golden hour in a glass; the perfect blend of sweet, fruity and slightly bitter with a gorgeous golden hue. Combine bourbon, Lillet blanc, Aperol and some grapefruit zest for a light and refreshing pre-dinner drink.

22. Blackberry Bourbon Smash

Blackberry Smash — *Blackberry Bourbon Smash (via Canva)*

These are some of the moodier bourbon cocktails that are bursting with juicy blackberry flavor. A little turbinado sugar along with fresh lime juice and mint pair perfectly with your favorite bourbon or whiskey.

23. Withering Sunrise

These summer bourbon cocktails taste like sunshine in a glass, with a hint of the tropics. Combine bourbon with puréed mango, agave nectar, two lemon wedges and two ounces of IPA along with a dash of bitters. It’s sweet, slightly effervescent and totally unique. Try to use an IPA with some lingering tropical flavors for an even more tropical outcome.

2-Ingredient Bourbon Drinks

24. Old Fashioned

It’s hard to think of bourbon cocktails without the ever-popular Old Fashioned coming to mind. Pour your favorite bourbon over a dash of bitters and a sugar cube for a smooth, easy sipper. Garnish with an orange twist or use a fancy cloche to add smokiness. This simple drink is almost as easy as a neat pour but just a touch more special.

25. Bourbon Rickey

You likely have everything you need on hand for this easy 2-ingredient bourbon cocktail. After pouring your desired amount of bourbon in a highball glass, squeeze a lime and top with club soda. You can adjust the quantities of each ingredient to your liking so it’s tarter or stronger.

26. Bourbon and Berries

It’s worth the little bit of extra time needed to create your homemade strawberry-vanilla syrup for this wonderful 2-ingredient bourbon cocktail. Shake your favorite bourbon with a spoonful of syrup and a dash of bitters before pouring over ice and garnishing with an orange twist. It looks similar to an Old Fashioned but tastes more summery and sweet.

There are very few occasions where a refreshing bourbon cocktail doesn’t come in handy. Hot summer day by the pool? Any one of those fruit smashes will hit the spot. Feeling under the weather? Host a virtual happy hour and enjoy hot toddies where the lemon and honey will instantly soothe your sore throat. A nice bottle of bourbon or a high-end shaker set makes a thoughtful gift for cocktail lovers or says “thank you for hosting.”

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