Best Bourbon Cocktails

If you’ve been sipping bourbon over ice and feeling like you want something a little more exciting, you’re not alone. Mixing the best bourbon cocktails at home is easier than it looks. You can shake up smooth classics or try bold new favorites with tools you already have. Every drink mentioned here is meant to taste great without feeling complicated. If you’re keeping things simple, you might also enjoy these easy two ingredient bourbon cocktails you can mix anytime.

Bourbon gets its character from the corn in its mash and the time it spends in new charred oak barrels. That’s where all those layers of caramel, vanilla, and warm spice come from. Those flavors blend well with citrus, bitters, honey, herbs, and even tea. If you’ve ever looked into bourbon basics, you’ve probably seen why drinks like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan never go out of style. Any list of expert bourbon cocktails shows how wide the range really is from crisp Mint Juleps to creamy Whiskey Sours.

I’ve spent years mixing bourbon drinks at home and testing how different bottles change the flavor. Over time you start to notice how small tweaks shift the drink in sweeter, sharper, or smoother directions. These classic bourbon cocktails give you a fun starting point for your home bar and help you build confidence as you figure out what style you enjoy most.

What Makes Bourbon Perfect for Cocktails?

Bourbon is an American whiskey made mostly from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. That mix gives you layers of caramel, vanilla, and warm spice that feel warm and smooth instead of sharp. This is why bourbon makes such a great base for so many drinks.

Those sweet and cozy flavors blend well with citrus, sugar, bitters, and even fresh herbs. When you shake a Whiskey Sour or stir an Old Fashioned, bourbon pulls everything together and gives the drink its character. It handles fruit, spice, and even a little smoke without losing its balance.

Compared to rye, which tastes dry and peppery, bourbon feels round and mellow. Scotch leans smoky or earthy, but bourbon stays sweet and full. That balance is why many people think bourbon is the best whiskey for cocktails.

Another thing people love about bourbon is how flexible it is. You can use it in short, strong pours or in long and refreshing mixes. Once you understand why bourbon is good for cocktails, you’ll find yourself reaching for it all the time.

Classic Bourbon Cocktails You Need to Know

Getting to know the classic bourbon cocktails gives you a solid starting point for mixing at home. Each one teaches you something simple like how to stir, how to shake, or how to balance sweet, sour, and bitter flavors. The more you try, the easier it gets to understand what you like.

Old Fashioned

The bourbon Old Fashioned is proof that simple ingredients can create a great drink. It is smooth, rich, and very whiskey forward. You only need bourbon, a touch of sugar, and bitters.

This drink goes back to the early 1800s when people wanted cocktails made the old fashioned way. It sits right between old school tradition and modern craft.

You stir it over ice, pour it into a rocks glass, and finish with a citrus peel. A medium to higher proof bourbon works well because it holds up to the sweetness.

You might also like: Rum Old Fashioned Recipe | Mezcal Old Fashioned Recipe

Manhattan

The bourbon Manhattan mixes rich whiskey flavor with the herbal sweetness of vermouth and bitters. It is more aromatic than fruity and pairs well with aged bourbons.

It began in New York in the late 1800s as an evening drink for elegant bars. Many bartenders used rye, but bourbon gives it a softer and warmer feel.

Stir it with ice, strain into a coupe or martini glass, and add a brandied cherry or a citrus twist on top.

Related: Black Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

Mint Julep

The bourbon Mint Julep is cool, crisp, and perfect on hot days. Fresh mint and sugar balance the oak and spice in the bourbon.

Juleps have been around since early American history, but Kentucky made this one famous at the Derby. The ritual of building it is part of the fun.

Gently muddle the mint with sugar, add crushed ice, then pour in the bourbon. Using a metal julep cup creates that frosty effect on the outside.

Whiskey Sour

The bourbon Whiskey Sour balances sweet and tart in a really refreshing way. Bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar keep it simple and bright.

Sours have been around since the 1800s as part of a larger family of citrus cocktails. This bourbon version is still one of the most trusted.

Shake it with ice and strain into a coupe or over fresh ice. You can add egg white for foam if you like. Always taste and adjust the sweetness to match the lemon.

Boulevardier

The Boulevardier cocktail is perfect if you love Negronis. It is bittersweet, silky, and warming because it blends bourbon with sweet vermouth and a bitter liqueur.

It was created in the early 1900s and connected to American writers in Paris who wanted a whiskey twist on Italian drinks.

Stir it with ice and serve it up or over a large ice cube. It works well as a pre dinner cocktail or on cooler evenings.

Paper Plane

The Paper Plane cocktail shows how versatile bourbon can be. Lemon, amaro, and a bitter aperitivo create an even mix of sour, sweet, and bitter.

A modern bartender created it in the 2000s and it became popular because the recipe is easy to remember.

Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe. Since everything is equal parts, no single flavor takes over and the bourbon stays present.

Gold Rush

The Gold Rush cocktail is a cozy take on the Whiskey Sour. Honey syrup replaces sugar, giving you a warm floral sweetness that works well with bourbon.

It was created in New York in the early 2000s and quickly became popular with home bartenders.

Shake bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice with ice, then strain into a rocks glass. Darker honeys give a deeper flavor, while lighter honeys taste cleaner.

Kentucky Mule

The bar tools and accessories is a bourbon twist on the classic mule. Bourbon’s caramel notes blend with ginger beer and lime for a spicy and refreshing drink.

It comes from the Moscow Mule but swaps vodka for bourbon to create a stronger, warmer flavor.

Build it over ice in a copper mug or a highball glass. Fresh lime juice and good ginger beer make the biggest difference.

If you like ginger beer cocktails, the classic bourbon buck with citrus and ginger is another refreshing option that’s closely related.

Whiskey Smash

The Whiskey Smash cocktail tastes bright and juicy thanks to lemon and fresh mint. It is smooth, easygoing, and great for summer.

Smash style drinks go back to the 1800s and were built around spirits, sugar, and herbs. This bourbon version became a casual classic.

Muddle the citrus and herbs, shake with bourbon and ice, then strain over fresh ice. It is a great way to practice gentle muddling.

If you enjoy this style, a bourbon peach smash with fresh fruit and mint is another easy option that keeps the same bright, muddled flavor profile.

Bourbon Sweet Tea

Bourbon Sweet Tea brings a Southern touch to the bourbon cocktail list. Sweet tea, bourbon, lemon, and ice make a smooth and lively highball.

It grew out of Southern gatherings where sweet tea was already a staple. Pairing it with bourbon was a natural step.

Build it in a glass or pitcher with ice and a lemon wedge. Keep the sweetness light so the bourbon stays noticeable.

Hot Toddy

A Hot Toddy with bourbon adds warmth and gentle spice to cold nights. Honey, lemon, and hot water blend smoothly with bourbon’s caramel notes.

The drink comes from early whiskey tonics that people used for comfort. It has stayed popular for generations.

Add bourbon to a mug, mix in hot water, honey, and lemon juice, then sip slowly while the steam brings out the aroma.

Milk Punch

Bourbon Milk Punch is creamy, mellow, and great for brunch or late nights. Milk, sugar, and bourbon make it soft, sweet, and comforting.

It has deep roots in the American South and was featured in 19th century cookbooks. Today it feels vintage and dessert like.

Shake cold milk, bourbon, and simple syrup with ice, then strain into a chilled glass. A little nutmeg on top adds a warm aroma.

Brown Derby

The Brown Derby cocktail mixes grapefruit and honey with bourbon for a bright but rounded drink. It has a clean citrus sparkle and a warm finish.

It was named after a Hollywood diner from the 1930s and became popular with film stars who wanted something simple and elegant.

Shake the ingredients with ice, strain into a coupe, and keep the garnish light. A medium proof bourbon keeps the flavors balanced.

Bourbon Highball

The Bourbon Highball keeps things simple. Sparkling water or club soda stretches the bourbon without covering up its flavor.

The drink dates back to the early 1900s and became a favorite because of how refreshing and easy it is.

Pour bourbon over ice in a tall glass, top with soda, give it one gentle stir, and add a lemon peel if you like. It is clean, crisp, and great anytime.

For something just as refreshing but with a sharper citrus edge, the bourbon rickey with fresh lime and soda is a great alternative.

Essential Tools for Making Bourbon Cocktails at Home

You don’t need a big setup to make great bourbon cocktails. A few key tools make mixing easier and help your drinks taste cleaner and more balanced.

A good starter kit is the MixMaster Pro Deluxe Stainless Steel Cocktail Set. It covers the basics like a shaker, strainer, and jigger, which you’ll use for classics like the Whiskey Sour or Gold Rush.

Fresh citrus makes a huge difference, so having a reliable squeezer helps a lot. The ZestyMaster Stainless Steel Citrus Squeezer works well for quick lemon and lime prep.

Glassware also shapes the feel of your drink. Rocks glasses fit Old Fashioneds, while coupes match drinks served up. For sipping bourbon neat, the Whiskey Wobble Rotating Connoisseur’s Glass adds a fun touch.

If you enjoy Kentucky Mules, the Pure Copper Mug keeps everything icy cold. And for a cool display piece, the Star Wars Storm Trooper Glass Decanter works for bourbon or pre mixed batches.

If you want to explore more bar tools and accessories, you can find them in the full barware collection.

Frequently Asked Questions