Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 25 Bourbon Cocktail Recipes That Are Basically Made for Southern Porch-Sipping By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Becky Luigart Stayner If we had to pick a house beverage for the South, it would likely be a bourbon cocktail. This Kentucky-born spirit is a Southern signature that has made a huge resurgence in the past decade. Now, the old-fashioned is getting new-fashioned makeovers in bars across the South, and there are entire menus devoted to bourbon cocktails. What's the best way to drink bourbon? You can't go wrong with on the rocks or straight up, but it's hard not to love these jazzy bourbon cocktail recipes. Including classic sippers like bourbon sweet tea, bourbon-spiked Arnold Palmers, and refined Mint Juleps for Derby Day—plus, spritzes and adult slushes that are too tasty to resist!—this list can make a bourbon expert out of any home bartender. So get out your highball glasses and your shaker, because these bourbon cocktails are perfect for quiet nights on the porch and good times to be had. 01 of 25 Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin Recipe: Bourbon-Peach Iced Tea Peach offers the most amazing tart, sweet infusion into traditional bourbon sweet tea. It's just the recipe to kick off peach season. 02 of 25 Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers Spiked with bourbon or rum, this sweet tea is just for the adults. Garnish with fresh mint and lemon slices for a sophisticated presentation. 03 of 25 Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Once you've tried this bourbon-rich, orange-infused smash cocktail, you'll never want to go back to any other summertime refreshment. 04 of 25 Bourbon-Cider Mule Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Bourbon-Cider Mule Trade out the vodka for bourbon in this special take on a Moscow Mule. 05 of 25 Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine Bring back a nostalgic childhood favorite with a boozy twist. This is the most cheerful Saturday drink there ever was. 06 of 25 Shoo-Fly Punch Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Shoo-Fly Punch Ginger beer is the flavor secret in this spicy but refreshing cocktail. It gives the best pop of spicy ginger to this crowd-favorite cocktail. 07 of 25 Bourbon Pear and Hard Cider Cocktail Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Bourbon Pear and Hard Cider Cocktail Nothing feels more autumn-ready—which bourbon already exceeds at, by the way—than this cider cocktail recipe that is best enjoyed alongside friends or loved ones all season long. 08 of 25 Sweet Tea Mule Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet Tea Mule This drink is a boozy spin on the South's favorite beverage, and we've never been more happy to brew a batch of sweet tea. 09 of 25 Mint Julep Slush Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Mint Julep Slush We turned a classic bourbon cocktail on its head with one tiny change (hint: it's slushed ice!). And trust us, it's a game-changer. 10 of 25 Spiced Tea Bourbon Refresher Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Spiced Tea Bourbon Refresher This isn't your basic Arnold Palmer, thanks to spiced black tea bags, which go deliciously with the flavors of lemonade, bourbon, and just a touch of sweetness. 11 of 25 Mississippi Mudslides Becky Luigart-Stayner Recipe: Mississippi Mudslides Like a chocolate milkshake with an extra kick that makes it even more enjoyable—that's what a Mississippi Mudslide brings to the table. 12 of 25 Spicy Bourbon-Citrus Punch Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Spicy Bourbon-Citrus Punch Talk about a happy hour sensation. This bourbon punch is as bright and cheery on the table as it is delicious when it hits your lips. 13 of 25 Old Fashioned Cocktail Southern Living Recipe: Old Fashioned Cocktail Make this classic even more drinkable with crushed ice cubes to keep the good times going. 14 of 25 Frozen Peach Old Fashioned Hector Sanchez Recipe: Frozen Peach Old Fashioned Served ice-cold and topped with fresh mint, these summer-ready peach cocktails will help keep you keep cool all season long. 15 of 25 Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Bourbon Cola Grenadine Slush Homemade cherry-cola, anyone? All it takes to make this frozen cocktail recipe is some Coca-Cola, your favorite bourbon, cherry syrup, and a few maraschinos to garnish. 16 of 25 Triple B Milk Punch Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Triple B Milk Punch You don't only get bourbon with this recipe, but also brandy and buttermilk, too. Which is where it gets the name, "Triple B!" This cozy winter drink is perfect for the holidays. 17 of 25 Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy Something about a Hot Toddy really warms the soul, and you'll love whipping up this recipe that uses orange tea and fresh ginger. 18 of 25 Classic Mint Julep Brent Hofacker/Getty Images Recipe: Classic Mint Julep Mint juleps are the quintessential Southern cocktail. All you need for this classic version is fresh mint, mint simple syrup, and bourbon. Leftover simple syrup keeps refrigerated about one week and perfectly sweetens iced tea. 19 of 25 Spiced Tea Bourbon Refresher Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Spiced Tea Bourbon Refresher This Arnold Palmer-inspired drink gets extra personality with bourbon, a delicious honey simple syrup, and fresh orange slices. 20 of 25 Big Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Big Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch Bourbon, but make it springtime party-appropriate? Even the girliest spread could appreciate this champagne punch with lime. 21 of 25 Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch This one's bound to get you in the autumn mood. Bourbon, apple cider, and thyme are a trio made in heaven. 22 of 25 Maple Bourbon Smash Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Maple Bourbon Smash Basically a bourbon smash, but made cozy like a Sunday morning with the addition of pure maple syrup, which cuts the harsh alcohol taste for those who need a buffer. 23 of 25 Bourbon Slush Oxmoor House Recipe: Bourbon Slush This adult slush combines tea, lemonade, orange juice, and bourbon for the ultimate Southern cocktail. 24 of 25 Mississippi Bourbon Punch Southern Living Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch Muscadine wine stars in this spirited concoction of grenadine, bourbon, and a variety of fruit juices and sodas. 25 of 25 Aperol-Bourbon Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Aperol-Bourbon Fizz Everyone's favorite refreshing fizz just got a honky-tonk makeover. Kidding—a little! Turns out, orange liqueur pairs wonderfully with bourbon. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit