It’s safe to say that bourbon is one of those thing I WANT to be cool enough to drink. Ha! No, but seriously, it’s hard for me to drink. Over the years I’ve really tried to become a bourbon drinker. It’s just not one of those drinks that goes down easy for me. But I have to tell you…this citrus bourbon cocktail is the very first bourbon drink that I can genuinely enjoy.
First things first: I needed to wrap my head around bourbon vs. whiskey. If you ARE a bourbon drinker, however, then you’ll already know the difference between just any old bourbon and whiskey. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Here, I used bourbon whiskey from Greenville’s Six and Twenty Distillery that we visited earlier this year. Per the rules of a true bourbon, this spirit was stored in new charred-oak barrels. And it was made with grains all from South Carolina; corn, soft red winter wheat, barley, rye and rice to be exact. It’s a difference—even a new brand new bourbon lover like me—can taste.
But let’s talk recipe now, shall we?! I think the reason I love this cocktail so much is the pairing of the fresh citrus juice with the warm, smoky and smooth taste of the bourbon. When it comes to citrus in a recipe like this, it doesn’t matter if you use lemon, lime, orange or all of the above. I used a combination of all three as I had a lot around the house, but I assure you that you’ll get the same effect if you use one or all. It really is a great fall drink, and it would be simple to put a few down before you know it.
Tell me, are you a bourbon drinker?! I’d say this citrus bourbon cocktail would make a bourbon fan out of anyone! Truly, MKR
P.S. For more cozy fall recipes, be sure to check out our Recipe Index. xo
- 2 oz. bourbon whiskey
- quarter to half cup of fresh citrus juice*
- club soda to top it off
- simple syrup, as preferred
- fresh basil leaves**, to garnish
- ice
- Fill a rocks glass with ice.
- Add 2 oz. bourbon whiskey.
- Add 1/4-1/2 cup of fresh citrus juice.*
- Top off with club soda.
- Taste it and determine how much simple syrup to add. I prefer it more on the tart side, so I am conservative here with the syrup.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves.** You can also muddle some basil into the drink for more flavor if preferred.
- *For fresh citrus juice, you can use lemon, lime or orange, or any and all of the above. I used a combination of all; you'll still get the flavor effect of citrus.
- **I would not chop up the basil; it gets in your teeth! Instead, I like to slap the whole leaves between my hands before adding to the drink in order to the release aromatics.
