4 Bourbon Whiskey Cocktails for Summer

We all love a good cocktail in the summer. The combination of cooling ice, refreshing fizz and fresh fruitiness is the perfect mixture for a day when the sun is out and shining!

While whiskey probably isn’t the first alcohol that would come to mind when we mention refreshing summer sips, we love a good American whiskey and want it to feature in our glass all year round.

On its own, whiskey is a perfect winter sipper, helping you to warm up from within on a cold evening. However, in the summer months, the addition of a few extra ingredients can help to transform whiskey into a deliciously refreshing sip!

By adding in some fruity notes or a bit of fizz, you can bring new flavour potential to your dram, drawing out previously hidden tasting notes and creating new and complex aromas in your glass.

Orange Bourbon

A refreshing sip for summer, the flavours of your bourbon will work wonderfully with the orange hints in this drink.

You will need:

35 ml bourbon

15 ml orange Curacao liqueur

Ginger ale to top off

Orange wedges to garnish

Ice

Method:

1. Fill a whiskey glass with ice. Pour the bourbon and orange curacao liqueur over the top, with a squeeze of fresh orange juice. Stir together.
2. Top off the drink with ginger ale, garnish with a wedge of orange, serve and enjoy!

Whiskey Shandy

Love a beer in the summer? How about using beer as a mixer for this whiskey cocktail!

You will need:

50ml bourbon

90ml IPA

21ml grapefruit juice

7ml lemon juice

7ml simple syrup

Grapefruit peel

Fresh marjoram

Method:

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the marjoram to release all the flavour.
2. Add the bourbon, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and simple syrup and stir.
3. Fill a pint glass with ice and strain the mixture into the glass.
4. Top the glass off with beer.
5. Garnish with the grapefruit peel and serve!

Mint Julep

An absolute classic, the mint julep is a summer cocktail staple for any whiskey lover. First created in the 18^th-century, the mint julep has stood the test of time and remains a favourite today!

You will need:

55ml bourbon

15ml simple syrup

Splash bitters

8 mint leaves, plus a mint sprig to garnish

Crushed ice

Method:

1. In a Julep cup (or rocks glass, if you don’t have one), muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup together.
2. Pour in the bourbon and then pack the glass with crushed ice.
3. Stir the mix together.
4. Top with more crushed ice and then pour over a few drops of bitters.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig and serve!

Cold Brew Bourbon

Coffee and whiskey is a classic combo, but to make the drink more summery, we’re opting for cold brew!

You will need:

100ml cold brew coffee

30ml bourbon

30ml double cream

15ml maple syrup

Ice

Method:

1. In a cocktail shaker full of ice, add in the bourbon, cold brew coffee, maple syrup and heavy cream.
2. Shake the mixture together vigorously for 20 seconds.
3. Strain the drink into a glass, leaving the ice behind.
4. There will likely be some foam left in the shaker, so take a spoon and scoop this onto the top of the drink in the glass.
5. If you fancy some extra flavour, you can sprinkle on a little cinnamon before you serve and enjoy!

Which of these cocktails would you most like to try this summer? If you’d like to try some at-home mixology, then check out our guide to stocking a home bar or our tips on how to make better cocktails at home!