Enjoy fresh spring flavors paired with bourbon in these cocktails.
Some of the best bourbon cocktails provide a strong liquor paired with fresh ingredients. During spring, this means lots of citrus, herbs, and berries.
Many of these cocktails recreate well-known bourbon cocktail recipes with a twist, making them perfect for the spring!
Spring Bourbon Cocktails
For the best spring bourbon cocktails, check out some of these sips!
1. Lawrenceburg Lemonade
A no-frills favorite, this classic Wild Turkey 101 and Lemonade cocktail is the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and refreshing.
It’s a great drink to enjoy on a hot summer day or any time you need something light and tangy.
The combination of Wild Turkey 101 bourbon’s smooth flavor profile along with the tangy citrus notes from the lemon juice creates an incredibly flavorful cocktail.
The addition of simple syrup helps to cut through some of the acidity while adding just enough sweetness to round out each sip perfectly.
2. Bulleit Whiskey Sour
Here’s another classic bourbon cocktail: the Whiskey Sour!
The Whiskey Sour is balanced and sweet tart, with the spicy whiskey against the acidity of lemon and the sweetness of simple syrup.
Traditionally, whiskey sours used egg white to create a foamy texture.
It’s an easy cocktail to make, ready to spice up your next gathering.
Related: 24 Best Bulleit Cocktails
3. Mississippi Haymaker
Mississippi Haymakers are basically a sweet, tart lemonade spiked with bourbon.
This variation is guaranteed to quench your thirst!
This refreshing recipe was adapted from a haymaker’s punch (a farmer’s drink).
The original combines lemon, molasses, ginger, and vinegar in a sweet-tangy bourbon cocktail.
4. Mint Julep
The mint julep is one of the oldest whiskey bourbon cocktails.
It originated in the South circa the eighteenth century.
In 1938 the julep became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
It’s a great summer whiskey cocktail you can drink anytime.
5. Bourbon Slush
This a more intriguing rendition than other slushie cocktail I’ve had.
A bourbon slush is a frozen cocktail made with bourbon, fruit juices, and sweeteners,
The ingredients are combined and then chilled, creating a refreshing drink that is perfect for sipping in the spring.
Bourbon slush can be made in large batches and stored in the freezer, making it a crowd-pleaser.
6. Jim Beam Apple & Soda
Apple Jim Beam Cocktails are cocktails made with Apple Jim Beam, a flavored whiskey that combines the taste of Jim Beam bourbon with the sweetness of green apples.
These cocktails can be made in various ways, such as mixed with soda, lemonade, or other ingredients to create a unique and delicious drink.
7. Japanese Highball
Transport yourself to a Tokyo rooftop bar with this refreshing and elegant Japanese Highball.
The Japanese Highball is a classic cocktail made with Japanese whiskey and sparkling water.
The cocktail is simple to make and is a refreshing and light option for those who prefer a less sweet drink.
Made with high-quality Japanese whiskey and crisp soda water, this classic cocktail is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.
8. Four Roses Strawberry Smash
The mix of strawberries, bourbon, and ice makes this one of my favorite spring cocktails.
It’s tangy, it’s sweet, and it’s got back-end bourbon flavor.
It’s a summer bourbon whiskey cocktail made with cru
9. Bourbon Swizzle
The Bourbon Swizzle mixes sweet and bitter tones, and Bulleit bourbon provides a bold base!
Ginger syrup gives a hint of heat to the cocktail resulting in a flavorful drink.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 1/4 oz ginger syrup
- 3 mint sprigs
- 3 dashes aromatic bitters
- 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Instructions
- Dry shake, pour into a highball glass, top with ice and swizzle
- Garnish with dashes of aromatics and Peychaud’s bitters and a mint sprig.
10. Paper Plane
The Paper Plane cocktail features bourbon, Aperol and amaro.
It’s bitter, tangy, and sweet, hitting a magical mix between bourbon and amaro.
Follow this recipe to create a Spring bourbon Cocktail perfect for when the weather begins to warm.
11. Bourbon Rickey
The Rickey was named after Joe Rickey, a Washington lobbyist.
He liked zero-sugar drinks, and combined bourbon and carbonated water.
The recipe calls for limes and plenty of ice, making it one of my favorites.
12. Keto Bourbon Peach Cocktail
The Keto Bourbon Peach Cocktail made with Knob Creek Bourbon is a fizzy and fruity summer bourbon whiskey cocktail.
It’s similar to a ‘smash’ — referring to the muddling technique used when mixing up the drink — and not having too many of these!
Use diet ginger ale or diet ginger beer to keep things keto.
Related: 23 Best Knob Creek Cocktails
13. Bulleit Highball
This tall highball cocktail is a light and refreshing way to enjoy Bulleit bourbon.
Every bartender should know this recipe, and it is simply, bourbon and ginger ale.
14. Bourbon Lemon Drop Martini
I have always been a fan of the classic lemon drop martini.
This twist with bourbon takes it to a whole new level!
The sweetness of the lemon and simple syrup paired with the smoky flavor of the bourbon creates a perfect balance of flavors.
The drink is served in a chilled martini glass with a sugared rim and garnished with a slice of lemon.
It looks as good as it tastes!
15. Kentucky Sunset
This strong bourbon cocktail is made with bitters and topped with tasty ginger beer!
If you love Kentucky bourbon sips, be sure and check out 10 Best Jim Beam Cocktails!
16. Matcha Highball
Take a break from the heat and sip on the light and refreshing Japanese Matcha Highball cocktails.
It is made with Japanese whiskey, matcha tea, lemon juice, honey, and soda water.
This simple yet elegant cocktail is perfect for enjoying on a lazy summer afternoon.
17. Ward Eight
Here’s a classic bourbon whiskey sour riff!
Bourbon sours are a classic summer bourbon cocktail.
They’re refreshing, sweet, and lemony with a spicy finish.
This Four Roses version of the traditional sour is shaken.
18. Maker’s Mark Presbyterian
This easy mixture of Maker’s Mark bourbon, lemon-lime soda, and ginger ale creates a refreshing and effervescent cocktail that is perfect for sipping on a warm summer day.
With its smooth and slightly sweet flavor, Maker’s Mark provides the perfect base for this sparkling cocktail.
The tangy and crisp lemon-lime soda adds a touch of zing.
To create this unfussy cocktail, simply combine equal parts Maker’s Mark bourbon, lemon-lime soda, and ginger ale in a glass filled with ice, and garnish with a lemon or lime wedge.
19. Whiskey Sour
Embrace the tangy and sour flavors of Japan with this classic Whiskey Sour made with high-quality Japanese whiskey.
The Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail that is made with Japanese whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
This cocktail is perfect for those who enjoy a tangy and sour flavor.
20. Bulleit Kentucky Mule
It’s fizzy, tangy, festive, and goes down easy.
What’s a more iconic summer bourbon cocktail than a mule?
With only 3 ingredients and 3 minutes required, This 3-ingredient Bulleit cocktail is perfect for a night in or entertaining, with only 3 minutes needed to mix.
Bourbon + lime juice + ginger beer
Related: Summer Bourbon Cocktails: Top 15 Sips
Sip These Whiskey Cocktails This Spring
Enjoy the changing seasons with these spring whiskey cocktails as the weather begins to warm up.