21 Southern Bourbon Cocktails

By Southern Living
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

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? We like it on the rocks or straight up, but we also love these bourbon cocktail recipes. From classic tailgate sippers like bourbon sweet tea and  bourbon-spiked Arnold Palmer recipes to refined Mint Juleps for Derby Day or even a New Orleans-style Sazerac, we aren’t ashamed to say we might be experts when it comes to bourbon drinks. So get out your highball glasses and your shaker. These bourbon cocktails are perfect for quiet nights on the porch or fancy dinner parties. 

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Cranberry Old Fashioned Cocktail

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Cranberry Old Fashioned Cocktail

When the crowd breaks for halftime, impress your guests by bringing out a round of Old Fashioneds, garnished with fruit and made with a secret ingredient: whole-berry cranberry sauce. These cocktails are best served immediately, so recruit a fellow barkeep for muddling assistance.

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Frozen Peach Old Fashioned

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Frozen Peach Old Fashioned

Served ice cold, these refreshing cocktails keep your guests cool.

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Tailgate Sipper

Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Recipe: Tailgate Sipper

While this sipper makes for the perfect tailgate cocktail, we have a feeling you'll be mixing up this delicious combination when the season is over too.

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Apple Pie-Bourbon Sweet Tea

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Apple Pie-Bourbon Sweet Tea

Bourbon and apple are perfect teammates in this thoroughly Southern concoction.

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Fig-and-Bourbon Fizz

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fig-and-Bourbon Fizz

Choose Black Mission figs or another purple-skinned variety to give the drink a pretty tint.

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Julian's Old Fashioned

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Julian’s Old Fashioned

For the Kentucky Bourbon afficionados in your bunch, make Julian's Old Fashioned the go-to cocktail for your next gathering.

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Derby Julep

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Derby Julep

Its namesake may be the fastest two minutes in sports, but that doesn't mean this cocktail should be short-lived. Consider our derby julep a cocktail hour mainstay all year long.

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Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Muscadine wine stars in this spirited concoction of grenadine, bourbon, and a variety of fruit juices and sodas.

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Pecan "Milk" Punch

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Pecan "Milk" Punch

Toasted pecans, cream of coconut, cinnamon, and sweetened whipped cream make it hard to tell if this bourbon concoction is a cocktail or dessert.

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Shoo-Fly Punch

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Shoo-Fly Punch

Ginger beer is a nonalcoholic fizzy beverage with a pop of spicy ginger. It's the flavor secret in this spicy but refreshing cocktail.

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Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spiked Lemonade Sweet Tea

Spiked with bourbon or rum, this sweet tea is just for the adults. Garnish with fresh sugarcane and pineapple slices for a sophisticated presentation.

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Mint Julep Sweet Tea

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mint Julep Sweet Tea

This iced cocktail features the best of two classic Southern drinks: the mint julep and sweet tea. For best results, sip in a rocking chair on a front porch somewhere.

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Creamy Sorghum Eggnog

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Creamy Sorghum Eggnog

Add a Southern twist to eggnog with sweet-and-rich-as-honey sorghum. For a spiced garnish, sprinkle individual servings with crushed gingersnaps.

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Spiked Arnold Palmer

Photo: Ralph Anderson, Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Melanie Clark

Recipe: Spiked Arnold Palmer

Mix three Southern favorites― bourbon, sweet tea, and lemonade―for a Spiked Arnold Palmer.

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Peach-Bourbon Sours

Photo: Beau Gustafson

Recipe: Peach-Bourbon Sours

Celebrate in style with this holiday beverage. Peach preserves (like you would spread on biscuits) are the secret ingredient. Cheers!

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Cran-Bourbon-and-Orange

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cran-Bourbon-and-Orange

Generate some buzz at your next party with a refreshing combination of bourbon, cranberry, and orange.

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Iced Mexican Chocolate Sipper

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Iced Mexican Chocolate Sipper

To make garnish, pin orange rinds around straws and leave for 15 minutes.

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Classic Mint Julep

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. See our tips and techniques for stirring up a mint julep.

Step-by-Step Video: Make a Classic Mint Julep

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Sazerac

Photo: Virginia Switzer

Recipe: Sazerac

Said to be The Big Easy's first cocktail, it was originally served at the Sazerac Coffee House.

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Chucktown Sunrise

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Chucktown Sunrise

Bourbon and ginger ale combine to make a cool, colorful drink.

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Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Treat guests to a beverage that oozes charm. This sweet sipper features two regional favorites—bourbon and peaches.

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