15 Bourbon Drink Recipes to Warm the Soul (2024)

Whiskey

Looking for recipe inspiration for co*cktails that use bourbon? We've got you covered with 15 of our favorite bourbon co*cktail recipes to get you through the colder months and beyond.

Rabi Abonour

Rabi Abonour is a planner specializing in transportation, but has also been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for several online and print publications.

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Updated October 26, 2018

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15 Bourbon Drink Recipes to Warm the Soul (2)

As much as I love lighter spirits like gin and tequila, when fall hits, it's whiskey that finds its way into my glass more often than not. That could mean a spicy rye or a peaty Scotch, but today we're sticking with the booze that got me into whiskey in the first place: bourbon.

Sweet, oaky, and relatively mild, bourbon is at home in all sorts of co*cktails. Whether you're in the mood for a spirit-forward Old Fashioned, a honey-sweetened Bee's Knees variation, or a citrusy grapefruit sipper, we've got 15 recipes to keep you drinking and loving bourbon right through spring. (Of course, we also have you covered if you want some other whiskey drink recipes.)

Old Fashioned
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How to Make an Old Fashioned
Perhaps no co*cktail better showcases good whiskey than an Old Fashioned. Because it's made with nothing more than bourbon, sugar, and bitters (plus an orange or cherry garnish, of course), whatever spirit you use will come through in force, so make it a good one. While it's trendy nowadays to make the drink with spicy rye, bourbon is traditional and provides a slightly sweeter backdrop. If you've got company coming, Old Fashioneds are great to make in big batches—check out this recipe, which is designed expressly for that purpose.
Get the recipe for Old Fashioned
Boulevardier
The Boulevardier is like an autumnal cousin to the Negroni, replacing the gin with whiskey (either bourbon or rye) to complement the sweet vermouth and Campari. That substitution brings a huge change, turning a usually lean, bright co*cktail richer and more complex. A Negroni may be good any time of year, but a Boulevardier will seem especially apt as the temperature drops if you want an elegant, dependable drink to warm you from the inside.
Get the recipe for Boulevardier
Mint Julep
Even if Derby Day seems far away, there's no reason to wait to enjoy a frosty, refreshing mint julep, especially if summer tends to linger where you live. Using a mix or an artificially flavored syrup will put you on the fast track to ruining your julep; if you want to make it right, you have to use fresh mint—gently muddled, not smashed to death, to avoid releasing the herb's bitter flavors. For something a little different, try our chocolate variation, made with a good-quality crème de cacao instead of simple syrup.
Get the recipe for Mint Julep
Hot Caramel-Popcorn Bourbon Apple Cider
When it's numbingly cold out, you can't go wrong pouring a nip of warmth-giving bourbon into a mug of hot apple cider. In this recipe, we make that classic pairing even better by steeping the bourbon with caramel popcorn, giving the drink a nutty, toasty flavor. Because all popcorn needs butter, we float a pat on top of the finished co*cktail.
Get the recipe for Hot Caramel-Popcorn Bourbon Apple Cider
Continue to 5 of 15 below.
Bittersweet Amaro- and Whiskey-Spiked Coffee
This rich spiked coffee walks the line between sweet and savory by pairing bourbon and crème de cacao with caramelly, bittersweet Averna and herbal Gran Classico—and, of course, hot coffee. If you find the drink a little too sweet as is, just add more coffee for extra bitterness. Plain, unsweetened whipped cream is a fine garnish; for a more unusual touch, try flavoring it with a little extra Gran Classico.
Get the recipe for Bittersweet Amaro- and Whiskey-Spiked Coffee
Improved Iced Coffee
Not in the mood for a hot eye-opener? This elaborate chilled beverage starts with iced coffee instead, mixing it with bourbon, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, cream, Demerara syrup, absinthe, and orange bitters. The maraschino may seem to dominate the drink at first, but the bourbon will become more assertive as you sip.
Get the recipe for Improved Iced Coffee
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Sparkling Bourbon Pear co*cktail
This festive batched co*cktail gets a pronounced—but not overwhelming—fall flavor from a roasted-pear purée. The simple, sweet blend of caramelized pears and lemon juice is mixed with bourbon and maple syrup to form the co*cktail's base. To serve, pour the mixer into a glass, top off with sparkling wine, and sprinkle with ground clove.
Get the recipe for Sparkling Bourbon Pear co*cktail
Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is similar to the Bee's Knees—a mix of gin, lemon, and honey—but with high-proof bourbon in place of gin, resulting in a drink that tastes like a more complex version of a whiskey sour. While other varieties will work, I find that intense buckwheat honey stands up best to the bourbon.
Get the recipe for Gold Rush
Continue to 9 of 15 below.
Triple Crown (Whiskey Sour co*cktail With Amaro)
Another elevated take on the whiskey sour, this one gets its flavor from citrusy Montenegro Amaro and grapefruit-scented pamplemousse liqueur. The sweetness of the pamplemousse nicely complements the vanilla in the bourbon, while the amaro provides just enough bitterness for balance.
Get the recipe for Triple Crown (Whiskey Sour co*cktail With Amaro)
Blushing Betty
Colder weather means we're approaching peak citrus season, and this co*cktail makes the most of it by showcasing bittersweet pink-grapefruit juice. We let the juice shine by keeping the rest of the drink simple, adding just bourbon and simple syrup. A grapefruit-wedge garnish isn't strictly necessary, but I think it's a pretty addition.
Get the recipe for Blushing Betty
Moto Guzzi
This strong, dark sipper requires just two ingredients: Booker's Bourbon and Punt e Mes vermouth. Booker's is bottled at 120-plus proof, so it's capable of standing up to the bitter vermouth in a 1:1 ratio. You can also use a lower-proof (and cheaper) bourbon, like Jim Beam Black, but you might need to use a 2:1 ratio to keep the bitterness in check.
Get the recipe for Moto Guzzi
5-Spice Bourbon Punch
Bourbon co*cktails don't have to be intensely strong—on a milder fall day, you might prefer this refreshing punch, made with bourbon, lime juice, club soda, and a syrup infused with five-spice blend: Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel. Making the syrup with whole spices rather than store-bought five-spice powder both gives it a better flavor and makes it easier to strain.
Get the recipe for 5-Spice Bourbon Punch
Continue to 13 of 15 below.
Turkey and Sage co*cktail
This co*cktail drinks like Thanksgiving in a glass, thanks to pumpkin, sage, and turkey—or, rather, Wild Turkey 101 bourbon. It's not just the pun that led us in that direction: Wild Turkey's caramel and vanilla notes make it a natural match for pumpkin, and its high proof helps it stand up to the woodsy sage.
Get the recipe for Turkey and Sage co*cktail
Pomegranate Bourbon co*cktail
This drink incorporates pomegranate in two different forms: tart molasses and fresh juice. Mixing in fresh-squeezed orange juice adds some necessary sweetness to an otherwise tart co*cktail. There are enough strong flavors mingling here that you can use any decent bourbon—don't feel the need to break out the top-shelf liquor.
Get the recipe for Pomegranate Bourbon co*cktail
Maple Bourbon Eggnog
Who says eggnog is suitable only for Christmastime, especially when it's this tasty? The eggnog itself is a fairly standard formula, but it gets extra depth from maple syrup. What really sets this apart, though, is the crispy bacon-strip garnish, which plays well with the sweet maple—sprinkle on bacon bits, too, if you want to get crazy with it.
Get the recipe for Maple Bourbon Eggnog