Cocktails · Whiskey & Bourbon
Bourbon Cocktails6 Easy Whiskey Drinks, From Highballs to Classics (With Zero-Proof Twins)
Six easy bourbon and whiskey cocktails: Kentucky mule, whiskey highball, Lynchburg lemonade, paper plane, Seelbach and bourbon slush, each with a zero-proof twin.
3 min read6 drinks ⇄ 6 twins ↓
The easiest bourbon cocktails are simple highballs like a Kentucky mule or a whiskey and soda, while classics like the Paper Plane and the Seelbach are shaken or built with bubbles. Bourbon’s caramel and vanilla sweetness pairs naturally with ginger, lemon and bitters.
This page collects six easy bourbon cocktails, from a two-ingredient highball to a make-ahead slush, and each one has a zero-proof twin built on strong smoky tea. For the classics, we also link out to the old fashioned, the whiskey sour and the Manhattan.
What Are the Best Bourbon Cocktails?
The best bourbon cocktails use bourbon’s sweetness instead of fighting it. A little citrus, ginger or bitterness keeps the drink balanced, and a simple build means you can taste the whiskey. The six below range from a one-minute highball to a freezer slush for a crowd.
Bourbon vs Whiskey vs Rye: What to Use for Cocktails
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels, which is where the vanilla and caramel come from. Rye whiskey is spicier and drier. Scotch and Irish whiskey are different again: smoky or smooth, and not interchangeable in most recipes.
For cocktails, choose a bourbon at about 90 proof (45% ABV). It holds up to mixers without disappearing, and a mid-priced bottle is plenty.
6 Easy Bourbon Cocktails
Kentucky Mule
Bourbon, lime and ginger beer in a copper mug: the Moscow mule’s mellower cousin. Use a spicy ginger beer for the best result.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Copper mugBuilt3 minMedium · 13%
Copper mugBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6½ oz
The pour · 6½ oz
Kentucky Mule
Smoked Tea Mule
Bourbon, lime and ginger beer in a copper mug.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and mint sprig
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLime wedge and mint sprig
Method
- 1Fill a copper mug with crushed ice and add the bourbon and lime juice.
- 2Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a lime wedge and mint.
Method
- 1Fill a copper mug with crushed ice and add the tea, lime juice and salt.
- 2Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
- 3Garnish with a lime wedge and mint.
How the swap works
Smoky tea suggests the barrel, and a pinch of salt makes it taste fuller than ginger beer on its own.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Whiskey Highball
Whiskey and soda, finished with a ribbon of lemon peel. It is simple, crisp and clean, and a good way to taste a bourbon.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
HighballBuilt2 minMedium · 14%
HighballBuilt2 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6 oz
The pour · 6 oz
Whiskey Highball
Smoky Tea Highball
Bourbon and soda with a lemon peel.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong ribbon of lemon peel
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong ribbon of lemon peel
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice (one clear spear if you have it) and add the bourbon.
- 2Top with very cold soda and stir once, gently.
- 3Twist a lemon peel over the glass and drop it in.
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice and add the tea, bitters and salt.
- 2Top with very cold soda and stir once, gently.
- 3Twist a lemon peel over the glass and drop it in.
How the swap works
It tastes surprisingly like whiskey and soda: the tea gives tannin, the smoke gives depth and the bitters add aroma.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Lynchburg Lemonade
Whiskey, orange liqueur, fresh lemon and lemon-lime soda: the Southern porch drink. Make the lemonade fresh; it should be tart enough to stand up to the whiskey.
A pitcher of homemade lemonade makes the drink better and is easy to double for a crowd.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CollinsBuilt4 minMedium · 12%
CollinsBuilt4 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 6½ oz
The pour · 7 oz
Lynchburg Lemonade
Southern Porch Lemonade
Whiskey, orange liqueur, lemon and lemon-lime soda.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheels, a cherry and mint
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLemon wheels, a cherry and mint
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice and add the bourbon, orange liqueur, lemon juice and syrup.
- 2Stir, then top with lemon-lime soda.
- 3Garnish with lemon wheels, a cherry and mint.
Method
- 1Fill a tall glass with ice and add the tea, lemon juice, syrup and orange juice.
- 2Stir, then top with lemon-lime soda.
- 3Garnish with lemon wheels, a cherry and mint.
How the swap works
Black tea gives the whiskey's tannin, and a splash of orange juice replaces the orange liqueur's sweet citrus note.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Paper Plane
A modern classic of equal parts bourbon, bitter orange aperitivo, amaro and lemon juice. Equal parts are the easiest spec to remember, and it comes out bittersweet, citrusy and balanced.
Measure each part in a jigger and pour them into the shaker together.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
CoupeShaken3 minMedium · 17%
CoupeShaken3 minZero-proof · < 0.5%
The pour · 3 oz
The pour · 2¾ oz
Paper Plane
Paper Plane Zero-Proof
Equal parts bourbon, orange aperitivo, amaro and lemon.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange twist
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishOrange twist
Method
- 1Add everything to a shaker with ice and shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
- 2Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- 3Express an orange peel over the top.
Method
- 1Add everything to a shaker with ice and shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
- 2Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- 3Express an orange peel over the top.
How the swap works
A non-alcoholic bitter aperitif covers the Aperol and amaro notes, tea stands in for the bourbon and orange juice adds the missing sweetness.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Seelbach
A Louisville classic: bourbon, orange liqueur and bitters, topped with sparkling wine. Add the wine last and keep the bitters dashes generous.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
FluteBuilt3 minMedium · 19%
FluteBuilt3 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 5¾ oz
The pour · 5⅔ oz
Seelbach
Seelbach Sparkler
Bourbon, orange liqueur and bitters topped with sparkling wine.
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong orange twist
Ingredients (1 drink)
GarnishLong orange twist
Method
- 1Add the bourbon, orange liqueur and both bitters to a chilled flute.
- 2Top slowly with the sparkling wine.
- 3Garnish with a long orange twist.
Method
- 1Add the tea, orange juice and bitters to a chilled flute.
- 2Top slowly with the sparkling grape juice.
- 3Garnish with a long orange twist.
How the swap works
Tea and orange juice fill in the bourbon and orange liqueur, and plenty of bitters keep the flavor from reading as just juice.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Bourbon Slush
A make-ahead freezer drink for a crowd. Mix it, freeze it overnight and scoop it into glasses; it keeps for weeks.
· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec
Rocks glassBuilt15 minLight · 8%
Rocks glassBuilt15 minZero-proof · 0.0%
The pour · 42 oz (5¼ cups)
The pour · 42 oz (5¼ cups)
Bourbon Slush
Tea Slush
A make-ahead frozen bourbon, tea and citrus drink for a crowd.
Ingredients (8 drinks)
GarnishLemon slice and a cherry
Ingredients (8 drinks)
GarnishLemon slice and a cherry
Method
- 1Stir everything together in a freezer-safe container and freeze overnight, stirring once or twice if you can.
- 2Let it soften for 10 minutes, then scrape or stir into a slush.
- 3Scoop into glasses and top with a splash of lemon-lime soda if you like.
Method
- 1Stir everything together in a freezer-safe container and freeze overnight, stirring once or twice if you can.
- 2Let it soften for 20 minutes, since it freezes harder without alcohol, then scrape or stir into a slush.
- 3Scoop into glasses and top with a splash of lemon-lime soda if you like.
How the swap works
Alcohol keeps a slush soft, so the zero-proof version freezes harder: give it longer to thaw before you scoop.
Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml
Whiskey Drinks for Every Season
Whiskey drinks change with the weather. In summer, go for highballs, lemonade and slushes. In fall and winter, move to warm, spiced drinks: see fall cocktails, Thanksgiving cocktails and the hot toddy in our Christmas drinks.
More Whiskey Drinks on This Site
- Old fashioned recipe: the classic and four variations.
- Whiskey sour recipe: with or without egg white.
- Classic cocktails: the Manhattan and the Boulevardier.
- Batch cocktails: a big-batch whiskey sour for a crowd.
How to Make Zero-Proof Whiskey Drinks
Bourbon’s role in a drink is warmth, tannin and a vanilla-caramel sweetness. Strong black tea, with a little smoky lapsang souchong, gives tannin and a hint of the barrel char. A little maple or demerara syrup supplies the sweetness, and a pinch of salt makes everything taste fuller. Ginger and spice cover the warmth.
The full method is in how to make mocktails.
Saving this round?
Pin it for the next party — every drink and its twin will be right here.
Last call
Questions from the bar
Q1What are the best bourbon cocktails?
The easiest and most popular are the Kentucky mule, the whiskey highball, the old fashioned, the whiskey sour and the Manhattan. The Paper Plane and the Seelbach are good next steps.
Classic cocktails ↗Q2What is the easiest whiskey cocktail to make?
A whiskey highball: whiskey and soda over ice with a lemon peel. A Kentucky mule is almost as easy: bourbon, lime and ginger beer.
Q3What do you mix with bourbon?
Ginger beer, ginger ale, lemonade, cola, soda water, apple cider, iced tea and citrus juices all work with bourbon. Ginger and lemon are the classic partners.
Fall cocktails ↗Q4What is the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. "Whiskey" is the broader term and includes rye, Scotch, Irish and Canadian whiskeys.
Old fashioned recipe ↗Q5Can you make a whiskey cocktail without whiskey?
Yes. Strong black tea (with a little smoky lapsang souchong), a bit of maple or demerara syrup, a pinch of salt and bitters give a zero-proof drink the tannin, depth and warmth of whiskey.
How to make mocktails ↗Q6What bourbon is best for cocktails?
A mid-priced bourbon at about 90 proof (45% ABV) is ideal. It holds up to ginger beer, citrus and bitters without costing as much as a bottle you would sip neat.
Whiskey sour recipe ↗Another round?
Pour the next one
- N° 01Vodka Seltzer6 drinks ⇄ 66 Easy Spiked Seltzer Recipes You Can Make at Home (With Zero-Proof Twins)Cocktails · Vodka · 6 drinks ⇄ 6
- N° 02Chocolate Martini Recipe5 drinks ⇄ 5Rich, Creamy and Easy (With a Zero-Proof Twin)Cocktails · Vodka · 5 drinks ⇄ 5
- N° 03Bottled Cocktails5 drinks ⇄ 5How to Make Pre-Mixed, Ready-to-Pour Cocktails at HomeParty & Batch · Batch & Pitcher · 5 drinks ⇄ 5
