Bourbon Cocktails

Bourbon cocktails celebrate America’s native spirit, from the Old Fashioned and Sazerac to the Mint Julep and Manhattan. Check out some of the best bourbon drinks and start mixing.

Stone Fruit Sour in footed Irish Coffee glass with thick layer of egg white foam on top

Stone Fruit Sour

This riff on the classic Whiskey Sour comes from Jeff Morgenthaler of Pacific Standard, our Best New Bar of 2023. A touch of apricot brandy changes the cocktail into something special.

A Little Chili Punch cocktail in a rocks glass with a single large ice cube, and flower and pepper garnish

A Little Chili Punch

Our Best Under-the-Radar Bar of 2023, Platypus, proves that sometimes more is more, in this large-format cocktail featuring jalapeño vodka, fernet, whiskey, amaro, and tropical influences galore.

Night Tripper bourbon cocktail served in rocks glass with large ice cube and lemon twist on wooden table

This boozy bourbon drink comes from our 2023 Best Restaurant Bar, Jewel of the South.

Fanciulli cocktail in ornate coupe glass with leaf-like engraving

Left Hand cocktail

Manhattan vs Old Fashioned cocktail illustration

Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned: What’s the Difference?

Kentucky Buck cocktail

Kentucky Maid cocktail

Improved Whiskey Cocktail

Improved Whiskey Cocktail

Gold Rush cocktail in an engraved rocks glass with single large ice cup and lemon twist, on a dark marble background

20 Whiskey Cocktails That Are Perfect for Summer

Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned

10 Old Fashioned Variations to Try Right Now

Brown Butter Old Fashioned

6 Infused Bourbon Cocktails to Try Right Now

Boiler Room cocktail

Wassail Sour

Peach Beer Julep

Peach Beer Julep

New York Sour

5 New York Sour Twists to Try Right Now

Mint Julep

9 Julep Variations to Try Right Now

Apricot Ginger Whiskey Sour cocktail

Apricot Ginger Whiskey Sour

hand pours a small decanter of the Smoke Break cocktail into a rocks glass over one large ice cube

The Bootstitch at Firestone & Robertson distillery in Fort Worth, Texas

5 Easy Whiskey Sour Twists to Make Right Now

Bordeaux Sour

Dizzy Delight cocktail

Americano

9 Easy 3-Ingredient Drinks to Make at Home

The orange-hued Paper Plane cocktail in a modern coupe glass with a blue mini paper airplane garnish

6 Things You Should Know About the Paper Plane

Butter & Smoke cocktail

Switchel cocktail in a rocks glass garnished with a sage leaf

Hailey's Comet cocktail

6 Frozen Bourbon Cocktails for Summer

Pink-hued Millionaire cocktail in ornate coupe glass with etched gold rim, dusted with nutmeg, on white marble background

Gold Rush cocktail in an engraved rocks glass with single large ice cup and lemon twist, on a dark marble background

The 25 Best Bourbon Cocktails

Suffering Bastard cocktail with bamboo straw and mint garnish

Suffering Bastard

Red-orange Lion's Tail cocktail in a coupe glass

Bourbon Rickey cocktail

11 Easy Bourbon Cocktails to Try Now

Old Fashioned cocktail in a rocks glass with single large ice cube and orange twist, on light marble background

What’s Up, Doc

A glass of iced tea sits on a white surface, garnished with blue berries and strawberry pieces cut into stars, as well as a mint leaf. A pitcher of the same is in the background, and a white ramekin to the side holds more of the garnish.

Bourbon Strawberry Iced Tea

hand holding the Benton's Old Fashioned cocktail in a rocks glass with an orange peel garnish

Benton’s Old Fashioned

Gold Rush cocktail in an engraved rocks glass with single large ice cup and lemon twist, on a dark marble background

Mountain Dew and Bourbon: How an Appalachian Tradition Turned Into an Unlikely Craft Cocktail

Bourbon and Root Beer cocktail on yellow surface with red-and-white straw

Bourbon & Root Beer

On a sold blue backdrop, a multi-faceted rocks glass holds a single large ice cube, a full orange wheel, and an amber-colored bourbon drink.

The History and Secrets of the Mint Julep

Bourbon Rosemary Punch

Brown Derby cocktail in high-stemmed coupe glass, with a head of foam and orange twist, on a light colored background

Man o' War cocktail with lemon peel and cherry garnish

Whiskey Sour in a rocks glass with thick foam of egg white on top, dotted with swirls of Angostura bitters

Scofflaw cocktail

Hot Toddy cocktail in a glass mug with lemon wheel and cloves

two eggnog cocktails with cinnamon sticks and nutmeg garnish

New York Sour cocktail in a rocks glass on a sunny countertop

Kentucky Mule served in a copper mug and topped with a mint sprig garnish, served on a straw mat

Forbidden Sour cocktail with a cherry and orange slice, served on a silver tray

boulevardier cocktail over one large ice cube and with an orange peel garnish

Whiskey Smash cocktail on ice with mint leaves and a straw

Bourbon Rickey cocktail

Revolver cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange peel garnish

Paper Plane cocktail

A large snifter rests on a black marble surface against a sold black backdrop. The snifter contains a dark red drink and whiffs of smoke which emanate from the glass.

Godfather cocktail in a rocks glass with single large ice cube, on marble background

Mint Julep cocktail with mint garnish in a copper cup

Bourbon Cider Slushie

A short, wide rocks glass with thin walls rests on a dark wood surface. It’s filled with dark whiskey and a large ice cube, and surrounded by a red and white cloth, cinnamon sticks, a jar and a partially peeled lemon.

DIY Southern Comfort

Bourbon Lift cocktail

A coupe with a copper rim rests on a light wooden table. It’s filled with a pale gold cocktail.

More in By Spirit:

Vodka Cocktails

vodka cocktail illustration

rum cocktail ullustration

Scotch Cocktails

scotch cocktail illustration

Rye Whiskey Cocktails

rye whiskey cocktail illustration

Other Whiskey Cocktails

other whiskey cocktails illustration

Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails

tequila cocktail illustration

Cognac & Other Brandy Cocktails

brandy cocktail illustration

Other Cocktails

other spirits illustration

gin cocktail illustration