Bourbon: the Gentlemen’s Drink from Kentucky
If you’ve ever watched an action movie where the grizzled hero takes a seat in some shadowy bar, no doubt you’re familiar with how popular bourbon whiskey has become. Commonly known as bourbon, the spirit is primarily made from corn and gains flavor as it ages. Considered to be the drink of gentlemen, bourbon can be traced back to the 1820s in the United States.
It’s commonly associated with the American South and several popular makers include Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, and Booker’s. While you can enjoy this drink by itself, it makes a great mixer for cocktails–particularly cocktails that warm your chest, making it a perfect ingredient for a fall cocktail.
Bourbon typically has notes of vanilla and caramel, which blend well with sweeter additions to create a perfectly balanced cocktail. Although not as flashy as some mixers may be, bourbon provides a solid foundation for ‘cozier’ drinks. Because of this, we’ve decided bourbon is the perfect foundation for fall cocktails and have found 5 different recipes for the perfect fall bourbon cocktail. Take a look at the list below where we’ve compiled some of our favorites. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new go-to order for the next time you step out into the autumn chill with friends.
Bourbon Lift – 1.5 oz Bourbon, 1/2 oz Heavy Cream, 1/2 oz Coffee Liqueur, 1/2 oz Almond Orgeat, Club Soda
This creamy cocktail has just the right amount of fizz and rich flavors to draw you in on a crisp autumn’s day. Similar to a New York Egg Cream, this drink is delicious and is sure to be a favorite for fans of coffee beverages. Although you can create this as a single serving, your friends are sure to want a sip once they see you enjoying this delicious cocktail. For added flair, shake a bit off cinnamon over the top before serving. To create this drink:
- Combine all ingredients but the club soda in a shaker and fill with ice
- Shake vigorously for 10 seconds and double-strain into a glass
- Top off with club soda and wait several seconds
- Add another splash of club soda to life the foam above the rim of the glass and serve
Maple Old Fashioned – 2 oz Maple Bourbon, Bitters, Water 2 Maraschino Cherries, Orange Wedge, ½ tsp Brown Sugar
The perfect drink for enjoying at the end of the work week, this cocktail ups the ante on the traditional Old Fashioned with maple flavors. Make sure to find a good quality maple bourbon, since its the key ingredient to this cozy cocktail. This drink perfect to enjoy alone or you can whip up a quick batch to share among loved ones. Sip on this cocktail while seated near the fireplace and celebrate the weekend. To create this drink:
- Muddle the cherries, orange, brown sugar, and 2-3 dashes of bitters in the bottom of the glass
- Add ice and top with bourbon
- Splash in some chilled water and serve
Bourbon-Spiked Hot Chocolate – 8 tbsp Bourbon, 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 1/2 cup Sugar, Salt, 1/3 cup Boiling Water, 3.5 cup Reduced Fat Milk, 1 tsp Vanilla, 2 tbsp Half-and-Half
If you’ve never made hot chocolate from scratch, you are truly missing out. This hot chocolate recipe is wonderful on its own, but its sweet flavors so perfectly compliment the bite of the bourbon. You can add or subtract bourbon as you see fit to provide just the right amount of edge. You can make this cocktail even more decadent by adding mini marshmallows, chocolate syrup, or a dash of cinnamon. This recipe creates 4 servings, so make sure to gather some friends before recreating. To create this drink:
- Stir cocoa powder, sugar, and a dash of salt together in a medium saucepan
- Stir in boiling water until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth
- Turn on the heat to medium and stir in the milk, keeping an eye to make sure it doesn’t scorch
- When the mixture has reached your desire temperature, remove from heat
- Stir in vanilla, half-and-half, and bourbon
- Divide into 4 mugs and serve
Autumn Pear – 2 oz Bourbon, 1 oz Clove Simple Syrup, 1.5 oz Pear Hard Cider, .75 oz Lemon Juice, Bitters
The perfect cocktail for fall, this drink combines the sweetness of pear with the warmth of bourbon and hard cider. The clove syrup also helps tie in the flavors nicely, so you can’t skip out on this step! If you’re looking for a simple drink that will pack plenty of punch, look no further. Adding a sprig of fresh rosemary or a stick of cinnamon will really finish this off nicely. To create this drink:
- Combine the liquids with 3-4 dashes of bitters in a shaker and stir to combine
- Fill glasses with ice and then pour in mixture
- Add any desired garnishes and serve
Root of All Fall – 1.5 oz Bourbon, .25 oz Pomegranate Liqueur, .25 oz Ginger Liqueur, .5 oz Maple Syrup, .75 oz Lemon Juice, 1 tsp Fig Jam, 1 Egg White, Bitters
If you’re looking for a rich, sweet cocktail with some unexpected flavors, this drink will be perfect for you. The fig jam really helps tie everything together and create an explosion of deliciousness. Once combined, you’ll really enjoy the sweeter notes of the fruit with the smokiness of the bourbon. This drink is also perfect for gatherings, so next time you have company over to watch the game, bust out this recipe to impress. To create this drink:
- Pour all ingredients except bitters into a shaker
- Dry shake vigorously for 10 seconds
- Fill shaker with ice and then shake vigorously for an additional 10 seconds
- Fine strain into glass
- Garnish with 2-3 dashes of bitters and serve
Next time the leaves start changing to brilliant hues of yellow, orange, and red, make sure to take a trip to your local shop and pick up a bottle of bourbon. If you’ve never tried the drink before, all of the recipes above are wonderful segways into enjoying bourbon. Once you’ve made a few, try experimenting with different flavors to create the perfect fall cocktail. We know that fall is the perfect time to curl up with a delicious bourbon cocktail and good company. Maybe you’ll even discover your new favorite drink!