There's a bourbon cocktail for every season: Mint Juleps for spring, slushies and smashes for summer, and hot toddies and spiked lattes when it's cold. We have recipes for all the classics, plus new favorites that will definitely keep everyone happy.
25 Bourbon Cocktails to Sip All Year Long
Updated on Sep. 26, 2024
When it comes to choosing whiskey for your cocktails, it’s hard to pass up the sweet oakiness of good ol’ American bourbon. (Yes, there is a difference between whiskey and bourbon.) It’s the base spirit of many classics, including Kentucky’s favorite mint julep, but is equally good in recipes for whiskey drinks that traditionally use rye, like a Manhattan or old-fashioned.
Any way you shake it, bourbon cocktails are delicious all year long, from seasonal smashes for hot summer days to toasty tipples perfect for cold nights. Get your fix here!
Kentucky Mule
This variation of a Moscow mule puts Kentucky bourbon front and center. Mixed with ginger beer and lime juice, serve the sparkling cocktail over ice with lime slices and mint sprigs. It’s one of many Kentucky Derby cocktails to sip during the races.
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Milk Punch
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
In its original form, clarified milk punch recipes date back hundreds of years. In the New Orleans version, the sweet, milk-white cocktail is a French Quarter favorite, either as a Mardi Gras drink or anytime.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 245 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 40mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
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Bourbon Slush
Total Time
10 min
Servings
24 servings (6 qt.)
From the Recipe Creator:
Make big batches of this slushie drink for holidays or picnics. In addition to orange juice, lemonade and bourbon, the recipe calls for black tea, but feel free to experiment with different teas according to your taste.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 196 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 15mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Manhattan
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
Some Manhattan drinkers prefer their cocktail to be made with rye whiskey, others like it with bourbon. The latter lends hints of vanilla and sweetness, whether it’s served up or on the rocks.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 151 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Mint Julep
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 cups syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
No Kentucky Derby party should be without a proper mint julep. But really, the classic cocktail made with mint, simple syrup and bourbon is delightful anytime.
Nutrition Facts:
1/3 cup: 197 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (39g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
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Belmont Breeze
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
You can use any kind of whiskey you like in this breezy summer sipper, but the vanilla notes of bourbon work particularly well. This is a good mix to make for batch cocktails, and then add the sodas over ice per serving.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 223 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 13mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Whiskey Sour
A classic sour is one of the oldest cocktails, traditionally made with a spirit, citrus and sugar. For this whiskey sour, you can use pre-made sour mix to keep things simple.
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Brandy Eggnog
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings (3/4 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator:
You can go the store-bought route for eggnog, but homemade tastes so much better. Apricot brandy is the secret ingredient in this classic holiday cocktail, but there’s just enough bourbon (and rum!) to keep things interesting.
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 252 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 153mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 0 fiber), 7g protein.
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Kentucky Lemonade
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With mint, bourbon, ginger ale and lemon, this is like three cocktails in one. The mashup becomes a deliciously fizzy party punch that you can serve any time of year.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without bourbon): 129 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 12mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Boulevardier
If you love the idea of a Negroni but are more keen on brown spirits than gin, then this underrated classic is for you. A boulevardier is basically a Negroni with bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. It’s a smooth way to end the day or start the evening festivities.
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Mulled Wine
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This mulled wine is soothing and satisfying with a delightful blend of spices warmed to perfection. Refrigerating the wine mixture overnight allows the flavors to blend, so don't omit this essential step. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 379 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (41g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Old-Fashioned
It’s all in the name, really. An old-fashioned, a classic cocktail that dates back to the 1800s, is sheer perfection made with just a few ingredients. Use different flavored bitters, whiskies, sweeteners and fruits to customize your drink.
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Whiskey-Brandy Slush
Total Time
10 min
Servings
32 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
With equal parts brandy and bourbon, plus lemonade, orange juice and lemon-lime soda, this slushy drink is everything a holiday celebration should be in a glass. Garnish with cranberries or citrus slices, depending on the season.
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 146 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Whiskey Smash
The biggest difference between a mint julep and a whiskey smash is the muddler. Take 3 lemon wedges and muddle them in a cocktail shaker, which allows the oils to release from the peel. Add 2 oz. bourbon, 3/4 oz. simple syrup, a few mint leaves and ice, then shake until chilled. Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass and serve with a sprig of mint.
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Ginger Mint Julep
Total Time
20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A classic mint julep is just the starting point for this drink. Make a simple syrup with mint, then top with ginger beer before serving. It’s great for Kentucky Derby Day or any time!
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 238 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Cranberry-Orange Sangria
Total Time
15 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Letting this sangria sit in the fridge overnight improves the fruitiness, making it the perfect make-ahead drink for a holiday party. It's also nice with a splash of brandy. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 263 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
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Honey-Bourbon Hot Chocolate
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The only thing that could make homemade hot chocolate better is by adding a bit of honey and bourbon. It’s perfect for those really cold nights!
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without toppings): 376 calories, 18g fat (11g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 106mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 10g protein.
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Apple Cider Smash
Total Time
20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a great way to use up those apples from the orchard. Combine chopped apples, bourbon, brandy and sparkling cider for a cocktail that’s as crisp as a perfect autumn day.
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 152 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 1g fiber), 0 protein.
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Cranberry Bourbon
Total Time
10 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Make this cranberry-infused bourbon a few weeks before the holidays, which is delicious served neat or in old-fashioneds and Manhattans. Serve cocktails when celebrating with friends and family, or, even better, give small bottles as gifts!
Nutrition Facts:
1 ounce bourbon: 64 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Gold Rush
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 cocktail
From the Recipe Creator:
At first glance, a Gold Rush is basically a whiskey sour that’s made with honey instead of sugar. But the combination, along with a splash of ginger beer, takes the classic to a whole new place.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 220 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 4mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
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Paper Plane
Total Time
5 min
Servings
1 serving
From the Recipe Creator:
Created only in 2008, this spirit-forward cocktail, made with equal parts bourbon, Amaro Nonino, Aperol and lemon juice, has nuanced herbal and bitter notes. Put 3/4 oz. of each in a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until well-chilled, and pour into a coup or rocks glass.
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 179 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Hot Toddy
Depending on which origin story you believe, the first hot toddies were simply a way to defeat cold weather or were seen as medicine from the get-go. At its core, a hot toddy is simply made with bourbon, lemon and honey, but there can be many variations. It’s so good, you don’t have to be sick to sip one.
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Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
Everyone loves apple cider during the cooler months, and with fresh rosemary and bitters, it’s a perfect vehicle for this seasonal bourbon apple cider cocktail.
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Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Once you have the classic whiskey smash down, it’s time to start adding some fruit. For a blackberry smash, muddle 2-3 berries in a cocktail shaker with lime wedges and a few sprigs of mint. Add 2 oz. of bourbon, 3/4 oz. simple syrup and ice, and shake until chilled. Serve over ice topped with club soda. Try other fruits, too, like peaches, strawberries and cherries.
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