If you ask us, no home bar is complete without a bottle of bourbon. "Both Scotch and bourbon arewhisk(e)y, meaning they’re wood-aged spirits that have been distilled from a fermented mash of grains," writes Food & Wine contributor Brian Freedman. "Bourbon is based on corn, not barley. According to regulations, it must be composed of a mash bill (basically the list of grains that have been used) consisting of at least 51% corn."
We're amazed by bourbon's versatility when it comes to making sweet, tart, and warming co*cktails. For something unexpectedly tangy, try your hand at a Tamarind Whiskey Sour. Entertaining a crowd? We'd recommend whipping up a batch of Whiskey Chai. It's also worth getting comfortable with classic bourbon co*cktails, like the Mint Julep, New York Sour, and Paper Plane. Read on for our favorite bourbon co*cktails to make anytime.
01of 21
Winter Berries co*cktail
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Winter-Berries-FT-RECIPE0923-68de7d8554514ed1ac4ca00f22bd65c8.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (1)")
Fruity, rich, and mildly sweet dark-berry liqueur plays well with effervescent sparkling wine in this Winter Berries co*cktail, while grain-forward bourbon adds a touch of heat. Garnish this bubbly sipper with a thin half-moon slice of lemon.
Get the Recipe
02of 21
Maple-Bourbon Smash
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/maple-bourbon-smash-hero-01-FT-RECIPE1222-b505358fe4864fa083ae3ab27fc4b561.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (2)")
Richly flavored dark amber maple syrup combines with citrus juices and seltzer to make this lightened riff on an Old-Fashioned co*cktail.
Get the Recipe
03of 21
Boulevardier
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Boulevardier-co*cktail-FT-RECIPE0123-031f7d289f30433e9b70f959728d1089.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (3)")
The Boulevardier is the whiskey lover's Negroni. Made with three simple ingredients — bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth — this straightforward co*cktail comes together in seconds with staples you likely always keep in your home bar.
Get the Recipe
04of 21
Alpine Brew
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Alpine-Brew-FT-RECIPE0623-11119a3f6770454196bc6fdd1f8952ab.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (4)")
This delicious, highly caffeinated co*cktail combines bourbon, coffee liqueur, cold brew, maple syrup, and walnut bitters.
Get the Recipe
05of 21
Tamarind Whiskey Sour
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Tamarind-Whiskey-Sour-FT-RECIPE0923-119ff46d03cd43429fe9645a31a2cbe0.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (5)")
Tamarind imbues any dish with a telltale sharp, sweet, yet tart kick. It adds just the right amount of excitement to surprise even the most dedicated drinker of this classic co*cktail.
06of 21
Paper Plane
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Paper-Plane-FT-RECIPE1022-2000-b140c68dbfc448948ce09e00db46de98.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (6)")
Though the Paper Plane is easy to put together and it's plenty easy-drinking, it offers a complex flavor profile: still bright and fresh but with enough heft to make it autumn-appropriate.
Get the Recipe
07of 21
Bourbon-Tea Julep
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bourbon-tea-julep-FT-RECIPE1020-8d231e8b25b14cb38a931c88d6ad5984.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (7)")
Tannins from black tea add a beautiful hint of bitterness to this variation on a classic Mint Julep. The citrus oil, oleo saccharum, is made by steeping lemon peels in sugar. Its bright flavor is the perfect lift to finish each sip.
Get the Recipe
08of 21
Shadow Woman
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Shadow-Woman-FT-RECIPE0322-9ea42a61634447239147fd3d7365d263.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (8)")
This Old-Fashioned–style co*cktail gets a fruity kick from pear brandy and gentle sweetness from honey; the bourbon adds a bite without overpowering the drink. Pear brandy is a highly aromatic and unsweetened liquor made from fermented pears.
Get the Recipe
09of 21
Banana-Rum Old-Fashioned
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/banana-rum-old-fashioned-FT-RECIPE0620-e3d114f574ee40eabd2347a5a38a6556.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (9)")
A bold, strong co*cktail with both high-proof bourbon and light rum gets a hint of floral sweetness from mellow crème de banane.
Get the Recipe
10of 21
Withering Sunrise
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Withering-Sunrise-FT-RECIPE0523-581cce45273a42d4888283fc5bbf08b0.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (10)")
Bourbon and puréed mango are a match made in heaven.
Get the Recipe
11of 21
New York Sour
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/new-york-sour-FT-RECIPE0321-eec62dfdf2774491827bb1138a61f5cf.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (11)")
The perfect balance of fruity red wine and smoky-sweet bourbon, the New York Sour co*cktail is a classic for a reason. Shaking with large ice cubes chills the co*cktail without diluting it — and those large cubes made with ice sphere molds look great in a rocks glass, too. If you're feeling adventurous, add an egg white to the shaker for a thicker viscosity.
Get the Recipe
12of 21
Mint Julep
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Mint-Julep-FT-BLOG0622-febf54aa777442d7bb9bf74c379d4a80.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (12)")
The Mint Julep has been the iconic drink of the Kentucky Derby since 1939, but references to the co*cktail go as far back as the year 900, when it was sipped for medicinal purposes. When New Orleans bartender Chris McMillian was at Bar UnCommon, he recited an ode while mixing Mint Juleps, written in the 1890s by a Kentucky newspaperman, that calls the bourbon and mint co*cktail "the very dream of drinks."
Get the Recipe
13of 21
Dog Days of Summer Ale
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Dog-Days-of-Summer-FT-RECIPE0523-2d22815c032a47e983998b6881a242ae.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (13)")
Cherry heering gives this beer-bourbon co*cktail its striking red hue.
Get the Recipe
14of 21
Milk Punch
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Milk-Punch-FT-BLOG1222-25045c34039841cbba0c9885b54b30eb.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (14)")
This classic, creamy milk punch will warm you up on the coldest winter evenings.
Get the Recipe
15of 21
Whiskey Samash
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Whiskey-Shamash-FT-RECIPE1222-978004dde0be4241b70f44b9798afe1b.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (15)")
This Hanukkah co*cktail uses fig syrup to create a playful take on a whiskey smash co*cktail.
Get the Recipe
16of 21
Hot Toddy
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Hot-Toddy-FT-RECIPE0123-e1026e9c68dc43d3be68cf4961aa3ead.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (16)")
Is it really wintertime without a good hot toddy? We think not.
Get the Recipe
17of 21
Ginger and Bourbon
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hot-ginger-co*cktails-ginger-bourbon-FT-BLOG0120-2ca8234b7e674238bdab689401d380ab.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (17)")
This simple, soothing wintertime co*cktail is a favorite for good reason.
Get the Recipe
18of 21
Whiskey Chai
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/201308-xl-whiskey-chai-d363b7e754ca422f912e8fb3fac3baab.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (18)")
Think of this comforting whiskey chai as a nightcap meant to satiate a crowd after a big night out. We're especially fond of the Zanzibar peppercorns from Burlap and Barrel, which add a bright, almost fruity touch to this sweet sipper.
Get the Recipe
19of 21
Apricot Nectarine Julep
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Apricot-Nectarine-Julep-FT-RECIPE0822-2000-3564025efd6543128e4d55bb1a93b1eb.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (19)")
A puree of roasted apricots and nectarines brings out bourbon's notes of vanilla and nutmeg, making for the ultimate late-summer co*cktail. Pour some of the reserved puree on top of the crushed ice for a co*cktail that almost resembles a Hawaiian shave ice. The same roast-and-puree technique can be used for more stone fruits, such as plums and sour cherries.
Get the Recipe
20of 21
Homemade Eggnog
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/homemade-eggnog-FT-RECIPE0921-0b12e288a7224fa6aab3fcb85ae5767c.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (20)")
To make rich, creamy homemade eggnog, you'll need a double boiler and a whisk. In just two steps, you'll have a festive drink made ahead. Be sure to chill it thoroughly before serving, and give it a final whisk, too, to make sure everything is blended.
Get the Recipe
21of 21
In Cold Blood
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/in-cold-blood-XL-co*ckTAIL2016-ad6a7c23377a40239cb5994eef437ac0.jpg "21 Bourbon co*cktail Recipes to Make Tonight (21)")
Andrew Volk says this is currently the most popular order at Portland Hunt & Alpine Club in Maine. The drink, according to Volk, is "approachable but geekywith the salt," which he adds to balance the bitterness of the artichoke-flavored aperitif Cynar.
Get the Recipe
