Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash Cocktail RecipeYou can keep a batch of this vanilla bean simple syrup in the fridge for up to a month and use in all sorts of desserts and cocktails, like this Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Bean Bourbon Smash. Cheers!
The Best Bourbon Old Fashioned RecipeWhile pleasantly strong, a classic Old Fashioned is a super-likable cocktail, with just enough sweetness to amp up bourbon’s warm vanilla-caramel notes. For a slightly richer version, swap out the simple syrup for one made with raw sugar; a flavored simple syrup would also work well here—I’d recommend orange or ginger (you can also slice a thin piece of ginger to use as a garnish, in addition to an orange twist).
Hayley’s Comment (Blackberry, Sherry, and Bourbon) Cocktail RecipeThis cocktail is tart from blackberry syrup and lemon juice and fruity without any cloying sweetness. It’s balanced by the caramel flavors in the bourbon and gets creaminess from the sherry. Drink it all season, or at least as long as you can get some decent berries. Rolf and Daughters’ bar director Brice Hoffmann mixed up this new, seasonal cocktail (developed by bartender Reuben Bidez) for one of our editors when she visited Nashville.
Holiday Manhattan Cocktail RecipeWe recently had dinner at the home of some friends. I asked if I could bring anything, and my friend, who had heard that I enjoyed making cocktails, wondered if I had any fun Christmas cocktails up my sleeve. Although I have never had a classic Manhattan -- I’m a dark spirit late bloomer and usually drink it neat -- I love bourbon and this is what I came up with. Like any good Manhattan, as written it is a little boozy, but can be mellowed out with the addition of ice cubes in your glass and/or topped with club soda It is lovely at the end of a long day.
I thought this was a yummy and surprising twist on a Manhattan. Both my husband and I really enjoyed it. You don't usually see bourbon and dry vermouth together, but the sweet tang of the pomegranate molasses and the bitters helped to marry bourbon's sweet oak with the more vegetal vermouth flavors (I used Bulleit Bourbon and Dolin Dry) making for a complex cocktail that was still easy drinking.
Bourbon Sour With Honey-Plum Syrup Cocktail Recipe"This drink is perfect for the last days of summer, and the ushering in of a new season," says our Resident Bartender, Elliott Clark. "The base spirit—I chose Basil Hayden's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which is light-bodied with a spicy flavor profile—is always the inspiration for any crowd-pleasing cocktail. This specific spirit meshes with many different ingredients, but for a light, late-season cocktail it works well with citrus and other bright fruits." The combination equals a highly sip-able drink just about anyone would enjoy.
Mint Julep Cocktail RecipeThe classic mint julep recipe is probably most closely associated with the Kentucky Derby—the iconic annual horse race held the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs—but it makes a great spring and summer cocktail no matter the occasion. This version from Erik Lombardo, who previously oversaw the bar program at New York City restaurant Maialino and is currently the general manager at Marta, is as close as you'll get to the mint juleps they serve at the Derby without having to make your way to Kentucky.
With a fresh-made mint simple syrup (don't worry, making the simple syrup is easy: it's just sugar, water, and fresh mint leaves), plenty of crushed ice, and of course, bourbon, this knockout cocktail is a refreshing show-stopper. If you're not sure what bourbon to use, you might want to opt for the brand of bourbon they actually serve at the Kentucky Derby, which is Woodford Reserve (though any type of good bourbon will work). Lombardo also suggests that since the original mint juleps were made with rum (Jamaican rum, that is), rum is a great substitute for bourbon if you find yourself in a pinch. He even adds that if you can find real peach brandy (that is, a spirit distilled from fermented peaches and aged in wood barrels—not a sweetened cordial), you should combine it with the bourbon in this cocktail for a supremely delicious result.
No matter which type of spirit you choose (though we're a sucker for the classic bourbon), this classic mint julep recipe is sure to impress your guests—whether you're hosting a Kentucky Derby party, backyard get-together, or want to mix up a drink to sip by the pool.
We can't get enough of this classic mint julep recipe—with a homemade mint simple syrup and a hearty splash of good bourbon—from bartender extraordinaire Erik Lombardo, especially during Derby season.
Tipsy Arnold Palmer Cocktail RecipeIf you ask a group of golfers to tell you how the Arnold Palmer came to life, they’ll tell you a few dozen stories. And we like a drink that’s got a good story—plus the bite of bourbon.