Three Bourbon Cocktails Everyone Should Know
Not every bourbon cocktail needs a dozen ingredients or a home bar full of specialty tools. These three recipes prove that great drinks start with great bourbon and a few simple mixers. We use Bud & Dewey's for all three because its wheated mash bill delivers a smooth, approachable sweetness that plays well with citrus, ginger, and honey alike.
Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is the gateway bourbon cocktail for good reason. Fresh lemon juice cuts through the bourbon's richness, simple syrup balances the tartness, and the result is a bright, balanced drink that works before dinner, after dinner, or on a Saturday afternoon. The key is using fresh-squeezed lemon juice — bottled juice will leave your drink flat and one-dimensional.
Want to take it up a notch? Add a half ounce of egg white before shaking for a silky, frothy texture. Dry shake first (without ice) for 10 seconds, then add ice and shake again.
Bourbon & Ginger
This is the two-ingredient cocktail that never disappoints. The spice from the ginger beer meets the caramel sweetness of Bud & Dewey's, and the bitters tie them together. Use ginger beer (not ginger ale) for a sharper, more pronounced ginger kick. If you prefer something mellower, ginger ale works just fine.
This is also a fantastic stepping stone for people who think they don't like bourbon — the ginger rounds out any edge and makes it incredibly easy to drink.
Bourbon Hot Toddy
When the Kansas wind cuts through everything, a Hot Toddy is the answer. Warm water, honey, bourbon, and lemon — it's comfort in a mug. The honey in particular pairs beautifully with Bud & Dewey's soft wheat character. Use good local honey if you can find it, and don't let the water boil — steaming hot is the sweet spot. Boiling water will scald the bourbon and drive off the aroma.
Which Bourbon for Which Cocktail?
While Bud & Dewey's works across all three, you can experiment with our other bourbons for different results. Try our Straight Bourbon in the Whiskey Sour for more rye spice, or our Smoked Straight Bourbon in the Hot Toddy for a campfire twist. Check out our Smoked Bourbon Cocktails for more smoky inspiration.
More to Explore
These three recipes are just the beginning. For the quintessential bourbon experience, try our Bourbon Old Fashioned recipe. If you want to taste our full lineup before committing to a bottle, book a tasting and tour at the distillery in Marquette, Kansas. Ready to stock your home bar? Find where to buy Smoky Valley spirits near you.