Bourbon makes some of the best cocktails on the planet, and the Old Fashioned sits at the top of the list for good reason: it’s simple, strong, and lets good bourbon shine without hiding behind a dozen other flavors. That’s the best starting point whether you’re new to bourbon or you’ve got a bottle you’ve been saving for the right drink.
This roundup covers the classics you’d find at any good bar, plus a few twists worth keeping in your back pocket. Some are built for a slow evening on the porch, others for a backyard party where you need a pitcher-friendly recipe. A few lean cozy and warm, perfect for cooler months.
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Old Fashioned, a three-ingredient classic that never goes out of style
- Best for parties: Kentucky Mule, easy to batch and always a crowd favorite
- Best for warm weather: Bourbon Sweet Tea, a Southern porch staple
- Best for cold nights: Hot Toddy, honey and lemon over warm bourbon
1. Old Fashioned
This drink is bourbon at its most honest: just whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a twist of orange peel. Muddle a sugar cube with a few dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water, add 2 ounces of bourbon, and pour over one big ice cube. Stir, don’t shake, and garnish with an orange twist. The slow sip lets the bourbon’s caramel and vanilla notes come forward.
2. Whiskey Sour
A Whiskey Sour is tangy, a little sweet, and endlessly refreshing. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup with ice until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Add an egg white before shaking for a silky, foamy top if you want the bar-style version.
3. Mint Julep
The Mint Julep is cool, herbal, and famously tied to Derby Day. Muddle 8 to 10 mint leaves gently with 1/2 ounce simple syrup in a julep cup, then pack with crushed ice. Pour in 2 1/2 ounces bourbon, stir until the cup frosts, and top with more crushed ice. Finish with a mint sprig for an aroma that hits before the first sip.
4. Bourbon Manhattan
A Bourbon Manhattan swaps rye for bourbon, giving the classic a rounder, sweeter edge. Stir 2 ounces bourbon, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a brandied cherry. It’s a slower sip than a Whiskey Sour, built for savoring.
5. Boulevardier
Think of the Boulevardier as bourbon’s answer to a Negroni. Stir 1 ounce bourbon, 1 ounce Campari, and 1 ounce sweet vermouth with ice, then strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. The bitterness of Campari balances the bourbon’s sweetness, making this one for fans of bold, grown-up flavors.
6. Paper Plane
The Paper Plane is bright, bitter, and perfectly balanced in equal parts. Shake 3/4 ounce bourbon, 3/4 ounce Aperol, 3/4 ounce Amaro Nonino, and 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe with no garnish needed. It’s a modern classic that drinks lighter than its ingredient list suggests.
7. New York Sour
This one takes a Whiskey Sour and crowns it with a float of red wine. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup with ice, then strain over fresh ice. Slowly pour 1/2 ounce dry red wine over the back of a spoon so it layers on top. The wine adds a tart, fruity finish with every sip.
8. Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is a honey-sweetened cousin of the Whiskey Sour, warm and mellow. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) with ice. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass. The honey softens the bourbon’s bite without masking it.
9. Whiskey Smash
A Whiskey Smash is a julep’s citrusy cousin, built for muddled fruit and fresh mint. Muddle half a lemon, cut into chunks, with 6 mint leaves and 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Add 2 ounces bourbon and ice, shake hard, then strain over crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig for a drink that’s tart, cool, and fragrant.
10. Brown Derby
Named after the old Hollywood restaurant, the Brown Derby mixes bourbon with grapefruit and honey. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce fresh grapefruit juice, and 1/2 ounce honey syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. The grapefruit’s bitter edge plays nicely against the bourbon’s sweetness.
11. Kentucky Mule
Swap vodka for bourbon in a Moscow Mule and you get the Kentucky Mule, spicy and ultra refreshing. Pour 2 ounces bourbon and 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice into a copper mug filled with ice, then top with 4 ounces ginger beer. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wheel. It’s an easy batch cocktail for parties, since you can mix it by the pitcher.
12. Kentucky Buck
The Kentucky Buck takes the mule concept and adds muddled strawberries for a fruity twist. Muddle 2 strawberries in a shaker, then add 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce lemon juice, and ice. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice, then top with 3 ounces ginger beer. The result is sweet, fizzy, and a little tart.
13. Bourbon Renewal
The Bourbon Renewal leans tart and fruity, built around blackberry liqueur. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice, 1/2 ounce simple syrup, and 1/2 ounce crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur) with ice. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. The blackberry liqueur gives it a deep purple color and jammy sweetness.
14. Revolver
The Revolver is a Manhattan-adjacent sipper with a coffee liqueur twist. Stir 2 ounces bourbon, 1/2 ounce coffee liqueur, and 2 dashes orange bitters with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with an orange twist, expressing the oils over the glass. It’s rich and a little bitter, good for after dinner.
15. Bourbon Sweet Tea
A Southern porch staple, Bourbon Sweet Tea is as easy as it sounds. Combine 2 ounces bourbon with 4 ounces brewed and cooled sweet tea in a glass filled with ice. Add a squeeze of lemon and stir. This one scales up easily into a pitcher for backyard gatherings, no shaker required.
16. Bourbon Milk Punch
Bourbon Milk Punch is a creamy, dessert-like sipper popular in New Orleans. Shake 2 ounces bourbon, 2 ounces whole milk, 1/2 ounce simple syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract with ice until frothy. Strain into a glass over ice and dust with fresh nutmeg. It drinks like a lighter eggnog, good any time of year.
17. Hot Toddy
A Hot Toddy is the cold-weather cure, warm and soothing. In a mug, stir 2 ounces bourbon, 1 tablespoon honey, and 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice into 4 ounces hot water until the honey dissolves. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or lemon wheel. The steam carries the bourbon’s aroma up before you even take a sip.
18. Bourbon Apple Cider
Bourbon Apple Cider is a fall favorite, warm with cinnamon and clove notes. Heat 4 ounces apple cider with a cinnamon stick until warm but not boiling, then stir in 2 ounces bourbon. Pour into a mug and garnish with an apple slice. It’s an easy way to turn store-bought cider into something special for chilly evenings.
19. Bourbon Eggnog
Bourbon Eggnog is the holiday classic, thick, creamy, and warmly spiced. Whisk 2 egg yolks with 2 tablespoons sugar until pale, then stir in 4 ounces whole milk, 2 ounces heavy cream, 2 ounces bourbon, and a pinch of nutmeg. Chill for at least an hour before serving over ice. Top with whipped cream and more nutmeg for a festive finish.
How to Choose a Bourbon for Cocktails
Pick a bourbon based on how a cocktail will treat it. Stirred drinks like an Old Fashioned or Bourbon Manhattan deserve a bottle with real character, something in the 90 to 100 proof range with noticeable oak and caramel notes. Shaken, citrus-heavy drinks like a Whiskey Sour or Gold Rush can use a more affordable mid-shelf bottle, since lemon juice and syrup cover some of the subtler notes anyway.
Higher proof bourbons (100 proof and up) hold their own better in drinks with a lot of mixers, like a Kentucky Mule or Bourbon Sweet Tea. Lower proof, smoother bottles work well in simple, spirit-forward drinks where you want easy sipping over intensity.
| Cocktail | Flavor Profile | Best Bourbon Style | Ease to Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Fashioned | Rich, bitter-sweet | High-proof, oaky | Easy |
| Whiskey Sour | Tangy, bright | Mid-shelf | Easy |
| Mint Julep | Cool, herbal | Smooth, mellow | Easy |
| Bourbon Manhattan | Bold, vermouth-forward | High-proof, oaky | Easy |
| Boulevardier | Bitter, bold | High-proof | Easy |
| Paper Plane | Bright, balanced | Mid-shelf | Moderate |
| New York Sour | Tart, fruity | Mid-shelf | Moderate |
| Gold Rush | Sweet, mellow | Mid-shelf | Easy |
| Whiskey Smash | Fresh, citrusy | Mid-shelf | Easy |
| Brown Derby | Bitter-sweet | Mid-shelf | Easy |
| Kentucky Mule | Spicy, fizzy | High-proof | Easy |
| Kentucky Buck | Sweet, fizzy | Mid-shelf | Easy |
| Bourbon Renewal | Tart, jammy | Mid-shelf | Moderate |
| Revolver | Rich, bitter | High-proof | Easy |
| Bourbon Sweet Tea | Sweet, mellow | Mid-shelf | Very Easy |
| Bourbon Milk Punch | Creamy, sweet | Smooth, mellow | Easy |
| Hot Toddy | Warm, honeyed | Smooth, mellow | Very Easy |
| Bourbon Apple Cider | Warm, spiced | Mid-shelf | Very Easy |
| Bourbon Eggnog | Creamy, spiced | Smooth, mellow | Moderate |
If you’re building out a full bar cart, it helps to compare bourbon against other whiskey styles. Our guide to our best whiskey cocktails and this roundup of 27 whiskey cocktails cover rye and blended options worth keeping on hand too.
Essential Tools and Ingredient Swaps
A few basic tools make every drink on this list easier to build. A jigger keeps your measurements consistent, a Boston shaker handles anything shaken, and a bar spoon is essential for stirred drinks like the Old Fashioned or Bourbon Manhattan. A sharp peeler helps you cut clean citrus twists for garnish.
For ingredient swaps, honey syrup can stand in for simple syrup in almost any recipe here, adding a little extra depth. Out of Angostura bitters? Orange bitters work in a pinch for the Old Fashioned, though the flavor shifts slightly sweeter and more floral.
No fresh mint for a Julep or Smash? Dried mint won’t give the same bright, crisp aroma, so it’s worth seeking out fresh if you can. If you’re exploring more herb-driven drinks beyond bourbon, our collection of our best mint cocktails has plenty of inspiration.
Ginger beer brands vary a lot in spice level, so taste before committing to a full batch of Kentucky Mules or Bucks. A spicier ginger beer stands up better against bourbon’s sweetness, while a milder one lets the fruit or citrus take the lead.
