Mixing bourbon isn’t always as black-and-white as you’d think. Bourbon has many varieties. Besides the well-known brands, it would be an exquisite craft for you to combine them into a new drink according to your taste.
What Is Bourbon?
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey. A whiskey must meet a number of strict requirements to be in the bourbon family. It must contain at least 51% corn, be produced in the United States, and be distilled to no more than 160 proof.
It’s produced primarily from corn, though producers can also use wheat, rye, and barley. When it comes to aging, most bourbons are aged in charred oak barrels for at least two years. These factors give bourbon its characteristic sweet, smoky flavor.
What Do You Mix With Bourbon?
When you think of bourbon, you probably think of top brands like Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark. You can love one or all three, but once you understand the complex flavors that different bourbons bring to the table, mixing them for your concoction can be a fun way to come up with your signature drink.
Unlike many other spirits, bourbon is eminently mixable. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it:
Water
Water is the most common mixer for bourbon and usually works well with most bourbons. A splash of water makes bourbon taste younger and fresher. The magic of mixing bourbon with water is that it allows you to taste the whiskey without being overwhelmed. This way, you can pick out some subtle flavors that might otherwise get lost.
Soda Water
Keeping things classic, the best way to mix a bourbon drink is with soda water. This time-tested blander helps cut through big flavors while keeping your cocktail great. A soda is a double-carbonated drink, which means it has more bubbles than an average soda. The bubbles will release the flavors in your bourbon and help make the drink much smoother.
Ginger Ale
Ginger ale is great with a lot of different drinks. It lightens the alcohol flavor in bourbon, so if you’re looking for that but want something that isn’t as strong, this is one way to do it. The carbonation adds a little twist and alters the taste experience on its own. The unusually high acidity of ginger ale makes it a delicious mixer with bourbon and other spirits.
What Are The Best Bourbon Whiskey Mixed Drinks?
Bourbon whiskey mixed drinks are great because they are very delicious and easy to make. They can be served as a simple cocktail or paired with food such as steak. The best bourbon whiskey mixed drinks include the following:
Boulevardier Cocktail
The Boulevardier Cocktail is a drink that’s been around since the 1920s. It’s a classic cocktail. It gets its unique flavor from the whiskey and Campari, while the sweet vermouth and Italian bitters add delicate notes to this memorable drink. It’s a great drink for relaxing after work or dinner.
Kentucky Mule
The Kentucky Mule is a refreshing combination of bourbon and ginger beer. It’s minty, spicy, and sweet—everything you want from a summer drink. It has been described as an adult version of Dark and Stormy, but with a zest of ginger and rich brown sugar instead of citrus. The delicious cocktail pairs well with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to cheeseburgers.
Classic Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that is easy to drink and tastes great. This recipe calls for more simple syrup than the traditional recipe because it helps balance out the overproof bourbon. The addition of bitters, citrus, and sugar makes this drink boozy and refreshingly sweet at the same time. This is one of our most popular drink recipes and is sure to impress at any event.
What To Mix With Maker’s Mark Bourbon
Maker’s Mark bourbon is a quality product that doesn’t need any help. However, we have put together a few ideas on what to mix with Maker’s Mark bourbon, in case you are bored of the same old drink.
Maraschino Cherry
The Maraschino cherry is a sweet, sour, and astringent ingredient. This makes it perfect for mixing with Maker’s Mark bourbon, which has sweet notes that complement the tartness of the Maraschino cherry. Adding a maraschino cherry to Maker’s Mark gives the drink a sweet, floral taste.
Champagne
Champagne is arguably the most versatile sidekick to Maker’s Mark. The effervescence of this sparkling wine complements the vanilla, orange, and caramel notes in a highball, or if you prefer something stronger, go for a cocktail like the Sazerac or Vieux Carre.
Sweet Vermouth
Maker’s Mark + Sweet Vermouth = Manhattan. It’s one of the most popular cocktails out there, and it’s easy to make. Just mix Maker’s Mark with equal parts sweet vermouth, add some bitters and ice to a glass, and stir until chilled. Sweet vermouth adds a subtly sweet, fruity, and wine-like taste to your drink.
What Should You Drink With Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey?
If you’re looking to mix with Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey, try these mixers:
Lemonade
The perfect complement to a shot of Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey, lemonade is refreshing and light. It has just the right amount of sweet and sour to go with the whiskey’s strong flavor without overpowering it. This makes it a great choice for mixing.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is the best choice to mix with Wild Turkey. Mixing a Wild Turkey drink with coke gives it a sweet and fizzy edge. The soda does well to temper the bourbon’s strong bite and rounds out the whiskey’s strong flavor.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is a delicious mixer that pairs perfectly with Wild Turkey. It’s sweet and bright enough to bring out the berries in the whiskey while also perfectly complementing its caramel and spice notes. It’s also both low-calorie and low-carb, so you’ll be much less likely to overdo it.
What Should I Mix With Bulleit Bourbon?
Bulleit Bourbon is a big bourbon with a big personality. It’s a favorite for Bulleit fans, but it can be intimidating for first-timers. Here are three simple ways to mix in some Bulleit bourbon without overwhelming beginners or your taste buds.
Ginger Beer
If you’re a fan of a classic cocktail, try mixing this bourbon with ginger beer for a refreshing drink. If you’re looking for something a little different with your Bulleit Bourbon, try ginger beer. It’s spicy and refreshing, and it goes great with Bulleit’s classic Kentucky bourbon flavors. It has just enough sweetness to complement the deep, caramel notes of the Bulleit, but not so much that the delicious whiskey flavor is lost.
Citrus Juice
Use citrus juice to give your cocktail great flavor and crispness. It adds a touch of acidity and sweetness to the whole drink, marrying well with the woody, earthy tone that Bulleit is known for.
Syrup
Bulleit bourbon is the perfect whiskey to mix with syrup because of the vanilla, honey, and caramel flavors that come through so well when mixed. Try a Bulleit peach syrup or a Bulleit ginger ale.
What Should I Mix With Knob Creek Bourbon?
There are a lot of things you can mix with your favorite Knob Creek bourbon. The possibilities are endless, but here is a list of options to get you started.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream and Knob Creek go well together because their tastes go well with each other. The vanilla ice cream balances the smoky, spicy finish of the bourbon and makes it smoother.
Brandy
If you want to improve your Knob Creek experience, Knob Creek bourbon is a tasty choice. Brandy is produced by combining brandy with spirits that have been distilled from wine. The mellowing of this spicy drink makes it even smoother than other bourbons.
Chocolate Liqueurs
Mix Knob Creek with chocolate liqueur for a unique twist on traditional cocktails. Sweet vermouth and bitters give Knob Creek Chocolate a subtle kick.
What Should You Drink With Yellowstone Bourbon?
A once-in-a-lifetime experience, Yellowstone bourbon is as smooth as it is complex. The best way to enjoy its many layers is to mix it with other flavors. Try these:
Fernet Branca foam
With a creamy foam that’s sweet, minty, and bitter on the tongue, Fernet Branca pairs well with bourbon. It’s a real elixir that makes any cocktail better, whether it’s used as a foam, float, or mixed with bitters for a dash of aromatic bitterness.
Sweet Tea
Sweet tea is the perfect companion to any bourbon, as it helps bring out the flavors in the drink. Brew a pitcher of your favorite tea, add some sugar, and serve it with slices of lemon.
Fresh Fruit Juice
Fresh fruit juice is a refreshing drink that complements the flavor of a rich bourbon like Yellowstone. Fresh fruit juices, like apple, orange, and pineapple, bring out the minerality in the bourbon and make it bolder.
What Should I Mix With Apple Bourbon?
Apple bourbon is a delicious, sweet liquor that can be used for drinking on its own or as the basis for other cocktails. Apple bourbon is a fruity drink with only a hint of sweetness, light brown sugar, and musky undertones. It pairs well with cola and ginger ale to make an alcoholic version of root beer, or use it in a Mint Julep or Whiskey Sour recipe.
What Should I Mix With Peach Bourbon?
No matter how many types of bourbon you happen to have on hand, mixing a great cocktail requires getting creative and thinking outside the box. This is especially true if your favorite spirit happens to be peach bourbon. Try mixing your peach bourbon with ginger beer, ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, and a splash of cranberry juice.
What Should I Mix With Honey Bourbon?
Honey Bourbon is a whiskey cocktail designed to be mixed with sweet, syrupy flavors. Common honey bourbons include Jack Daniels Honey, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, and Abita Turbodog. Use an aged whiskey for a smooth mixed drink that won’t overpower the taste of honey. Other good options include gin, rum, and vodka.
What Should I Mix With Brown Sugar And Bourbon?
Brown sugar bourbon is a unique blend of flavors that makes for some delicious cocktails. A perfect complement to brown sugar bourbon would be anything that adds sweetness and spice, like ginger beer with lime or orange liqueur.
What Should I Mix With Maple Bourbon?
While you could enjoy maple bourbon neat, we recommend adding it to some of your favorite cocktails. Some popular maple bourbon drinks are the Big Rock Rainmaker, with maple syrup and lemon juice, or the Maple Old Fashioned, which combines the spirit with vermouth, orange bitters, and angostura. If you want to make a sweet drink, try mixing it with sparkling water and stirring in some simple syrup made from maple syrup.
What Are The Frequently Asked Questions?
Other Than Coke, What Else Can I Mix With Bourbon?
If you’re ready to move beyond classic bourbon cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, then it’s time to experiment with different base spirits.
One of the easiest things to mix with bourbon, beyond the obvious choice of coke, is ginger ale. Ginger is a natural pairing with Kentucky’s finest, and ordering one of these nine unique drinks will help you get acquainted with all that bourbon has to offer.
How To Mix Bourbon And Eggnog
Mixing bourbon and eggnog is a happy medium between the two classics. The taste of bourbon is more mellow and less spicy than other liquors, but not too sweet like eggnog. Try mixing 1/2 cup of bourbon with two cups of nonfat milk or one cup of milk and one cup of eggnog to make an amazing nightcap. You can also use rum instead of bourbon, or try other liquors in place of either one.
Conclusion
Bourbon is also often used to mix drinks because it has a lot of different tastes and levels of sweetness. Generally, the ratio for mixing bourbon is 1:1, but it all depends on your personal preference. The most important thing is that you should blend the right ingredients in the right way. So, once you have some idea of how to mix bourbon drinks, you can experiment with mixing different brands of bourbon and see for yourself which one tastes the best.
