Bourbon Cocktails: Easy Recipes to Make at Home

Whether you're reaching for a workhorse like Buffalo Trace or pouring something special like Blanton's, the right cocktail lets the whiskey shine instead of hiding it. Below you'll find a full Old Fashioned recipe to start, then a roundup of recipes worth bookmarking, each linking to step-by-step instructions.

Choosing the Right Bourbon

For mixing, a bourbon in the 90–100 proof range gives you enough backbone to stand up to citrus, sugar, and ice without disappearing. Higher-rye bourbons bring spice that suits stirred drinks; wheated bourbons stay soft and round in refreshers. Save the rarest allocated bottles for sipping neat, and reach for dependable, flavorful options when you're mixing. Browse the full bourbon collection to stock your bar.

The Two Classics to Master First

If you learn just two bourbon cocktails, make them these. They're the foundation everything else builds on:

• The Old Fashioned — the original whiskey cocktail: bourbon, sugar, and bitters built right in the glass.
• The Whiskey Sour — the perfect balance of bourbon, fresh lemon, and a touch of sweetness, with an optional silky egg-white foam.

More Classic Bourbon Cocktails

Once you've got the fundamentals, these are the next steps every bourbon drinker should have on hand:

• Blanton's Original Old Fashioned — a premium single-barrel take on the classic build.
• Eagle Rare Whiskey Sour — the sour elevated with a sought-after single barrel.
• Willett Whiskey Swizzle — a tall, crushed-ice cooler that drinks like summer.

Easy & Refreshing Bourbon Drinks

These lean on simple mixers and are built for warm weather, parties, and batching:

• Buffalo Trace Trace Tea — a bourbon-forward spin on a sweet tea highball.
• Buffalo Trace Dusty Buffalo — smoky, simple, and endlessly sippable.
• Buffalo Trace Aloha Kentucky — a tropical, pineapple-driven crowd-pleaser.
• Maker's Mark Cherry Lemonade — wheated bourbon meets tart cherry and lemon.
• Blanton's Strawberry Spritzer — a bright, bubbly way to show off a single barrel.
• Garrison Bros Honeydew L Bee J — a melon-forward Texas bourbon refresher.

Ready to mix? Stock up from the bourbon collection or explore the wider whiskey range for rye and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bourbon for cocktails?
A flavorful, mid-proof bourbon (90–100 proof) like Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark works well — enough character to stand up to mixers without the cost of an allocated sipping bottle.

What is the easiest bourbon cocktail to make?
The Old Fashioned uses just bourbon, sugar, and bitters. For something even simpler, a bourbon highball with sweet tea or ginger ale takes seconds.

Can I use rye whiskey instead of bourbon?
Yes. Rye is spicier and drier, which works especially well in an Old Fashioned or whiskey sour if you prefer less sweetness.

Should I use expensive bourbon in cocktails?
No need. Save allocated and high-age bottles for sipping neat; a dependable, flavorful bourbon makes a better-value cocktail.