The Only 18 Bourbon Cocktails You Need

September 14, 2026
Food & Drink

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Discover 18 essential bourbon cocktails, including timeless classics and modern twists. They’re all easy to make and even easier to drink.

Bourbon Milk Punch and Four Roses Bourbon — Image: ©2foodtrippers

There’s something about bourbon that we love more than other spirits. Do we enjoy bourbon because we’re American, or is our nationality irrelevant to why we enjoy the spirit’s rich blend of barrel-aged flavors? Either way, our appreciation for bourbon has grown over time.

This appreciation started with occasional dalliances and was piqued in 2016. That’s when we experienced a tour at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Since then, our bourbon interest has continued to grow, inspired by the barrel-aged bourbons we’ve sipped in bars as far away as France and Thailand.

Cocktail and Bourbon at Batch in Tucson — We rarely pass on bourbon cocktails, including this one at a bar in Tucson. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We’ve also imbibed more than a few bourbon drinks stateside in cities like New Orleans (on Bourbon Street), New York, Philadelphia and, more recently, Tucson. But we don’t just drink bourbon at bars.

We now have a number of bourbons in our home bar that we enjoy drinking both on the rocks and in cocktails. In fact, our love for bourbon blossomed into a burgeoning passion once we started crafting cocktails at home. We have no intention of stopping any time soon.

Brandy Milk Punch at Brennans in New Orleans — Drinking this Bourbon Milk Punch was a highlight of our breakfast at Brennan’s on New Orleans’ historic Royal Street. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Apparently, we’re not alone. Bourbon has become ridiculously popular over the last 20 years with some rare bottles selling for exorbitant prices ranging from hundreds to many thousands of dollars.

The thing is, unless you’re a serious collector or have lots of money to spend, you don’t have to break your bank account to enjoy good bourbon. Instead, you can buy affordable bottles from Kentucky bourbon producers like Buffalo Trace, Bulleit and Four Roses, which is exactly what we do.

Kentucky Mule and Bourbon Bottle with Pink Background — Drinking this Kentucky Mule at home was the next best thing to attending the Kentucky Derby. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

As the saying goes: all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. But what does that mean? In simple terms, bourbon is an American style of whiskey with distinct characteristics related to where and how it’s produced.

For starters, bourbon must be produced in the United States. While it doesn’t technically need to be produced in Kentucky, that’s the American state that produces most of the country’s (and therefore the world’s) bourbon.

Bourbon has to include a mash that’s at least 51% corn. It has to be aged in new charred oak barrels and bottled with a minimum 80 proof. The result is magic that starts in a bottle and ends in the glass.

Bourbon Manhattan Cocktail — We paused to admire this Manhattan before we sipped the bounty of our efforts. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Those are the facts. And, while facts are great, the best way to experience the deliciousness that is bourbon is to taste the spirit neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water or in a cocktail. We usually go the cocktail route and add a couple Luxardo maraschino cherries for good measure.

18 of the Best Bourbon Cocktails

1. Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour ranks as one of the most popular drinks in the world. It’s a pleasure to drink and a breeze to craft at home. Follow this Whiskey Sour recipe and join the happy crowd of Whiskey Sour fans.

Whiskey Sour Recipe

2. Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is one of the most classic of classic cocktails. Follow this easy recipe and craft a classic Old Fashioned at home in just five minutes, unless you’d rather craft a more modern Rum Old Fashioned instead.

Old Fashioned Recipe

3. Boulevardier

A Boulevardier cocktail is a Negroni crafted with bourbon instead of gin. It combines bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth to create a cocktail that you’ll want to sip all night long.

Boulevardier Recipe

4. Bourbon Sidecar

The Bourbon Sidecar cocktail takes the classic Sidecar to new heights by replacing Cognac with bourbon.

Bourbon Sidecar Recipe

5. Whiskey Smash

The Whiskey Smash is a refreshing pre-Prohibition cocktail that’s more sweet than sour. It’s also super easy to craft at home with just a handful of ingredients.

Whiskey Smash Recipe

6. Manhattan

Crafting a Manhattan at home is both easy and rewarding. Follow this recipe and craft the classic cocktail at home in just five minutes. You’ll feel like you’re at your favorite bar at 1am but without the drama.

Manhattan Recipe

7. Gold Rush

The Gold Rush glitters bright in the cocktail galaxy. Crafted with bourbon, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup, it’s simultaneously sweet, sour and delicious.

Gold Rush Recipe

8. Brown Derby

Easy to craft and a pleasure to imbibe, the Brown Derby cocktail is ideal for a lazy brunch or a cozy night by the fire. Plus, the addition of maple syrup makes this Prohibition cocktail simply impossible to resist.

Brown Derby Recipe

9. Bourbon Eggnog

This boozy Bourbon Eggnog recipe is both decadently delicious and ridiculously easy to make for just two people. In other words, it’s an ideal cocktail if you want to celebrate the holiday season at home with somebody special.

Bourbon Eggnog Recipe

10. Kentucky Mule

The Kentucky Mule is one of the best mules, which should be no surprise since its main ingredient is bourbon. Give it a try. Maybe it will be your favorite mule.

Kentucky Mule Recipe

11. Amaretto Sour

Crafting an Amaretto Sour is easy. The challenge is deciding which ingredients to add. We choose to add bourbon. After you try this recipe, we suspect that you’ll choose to add bourbon too.

Amaretto Sour Recipe

12. Bourbon Milk Punch

Bourbon Milk Punch is a decadent New Orleans cocktail that’s ideal to serve with brunch or anytime when you want the good times to roll. It’s a creamy cocktail that’s similar to eggnog. However, unlike eggnog, this boozy beverage is egg-free.

Bourbon Milk Punch Recipe

13. Paper Plane

Despite its fun name and festive color, the Paper Plane is a sophisticated cocktail that’s ideal for serious cocktail drinkers. It’s also a tasty tipple that’s super easy to craft at home.

Paper Plane Recipe

14. Revolver

The Revolver cocktail is a boozy bourbon bombshell with a caffeine kick. Why not pull the trigger and give the three-ingredient potent potable a try?

Revolver Recipe

15. New York Sour

The New York Sour takes the classic Whiskey Sour to a new level by adding a red wine float. This ruby layer provides a fruity zing and a stripe of elegance.

New York Sour Recipe

16. Mint Julep

Popular with both horse racing enthusiasts and cocktail connoisseurs, the classic Mint Julep is inexorably tied to Kentucky’s annual derby. You’ll love this bourbon smash cocktail even if you don’t fit into either category.

Mint Julep Recipe

17. Whiskey Highball

Treat yourself to a timeless yet modern Whiskey Highball. The two-ingredient cocktail has been around for centuries, but it tastes as fresh as ever.

Whiskey Highball Recipe

18. Maple Bourbon Smash

Sweet and boozy, the Maple Bourbon Smash is ideal to pair with brunch or sip at night by the fire. Follow its easy recipe and craft the delightful cocktail at home in just five minutes.

Maple Bourbon Smash Recipe

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

What is bourbon?

Bourbon is American whiskey that’s distilled with corn and aged in new charred oak barrels.

How is bourbon different from whiskey?

Bourbon is a type of whiskey. Unlike other whiskeys, bourbon’s mash must be at least 51% corn and the spirit must be aged in new charred oak barrels. Bourbon must also be produced in the United States.

Where is bourbon produced?

All bourbon is produced in the United States, primarily (but not exclusively) in the State of Kentucky in adherence to the country’s strict bourbon rules.

What are the bourbon rules?

Bourbon rules specify how whiskey must be distilled and aged. These rules include using at least 51% corn, aging in new charred oak barrels and achieving a proof no less than 80 when bottled.

What are the different ways to drink bourbon?

Bourbon can be imbibed in different ways including neat (with nothing added), on the rocks (with ice cubes), with a splash of water and in cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Whiskey Sour.

Who makes the best bourbon?

Selecting the best bourbon is subjective and depends on both budget and intended usage. Notable bourbon brands include Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Old Forester, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve.

What is the most popular bourbon cocktail?

The Old Fashioned is the most popular bourbon cocktail and one of the most popular cocktails in the world. Its simple recipe includes bourbon (or rye), Angostura bitters, a jumbo ice cube and an orange twist.

Is bourbon expensive?

Unless you’re looking to buy Buffalo Trace’s super expensive Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon, bourbon bottle prices run the gamut from affordable to luxury.

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Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft these cocktails.