Drinks

40 of the South’s Best Bourbon Cocktail Recipes

Knockout cocktail recipes to celebrate the South’s favorite spirit


Third Man Cocktail

Grapefruit, Campari, and bourbon come together in the perfect summertime sipper.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Bourbon-and-Coke Slushy

A frozen, boozy treat from Atlanta, Georgia.

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Photo: Mia Yakel

A Two-Ingredient Old-Fashioned

A South Carolina bar gives the classic cocktail a European twist.

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Photo: Cameron Wilder

Colorado Cool-Aid

Bourbon, beer, and amaro mingle in a frosty cocktail perfect for summer.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

The Manhattan

The name is from New York, but the whiskey is all Southern.

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Photo: Jacqueline Stofsick

Charleston Brown Water Society Punch

A bourbon party punch from the Holy City.

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Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

A Carnival Cocktail Fit for a King

This bold blend of bourbon and blackberry hails from the birthplace of brunch.

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Photo: Sam Hanna

Touchdown Tea

Energizing green tea, bourbon, and lemon from the lead bartender at Virgin Hotels New Orleans.

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Photo: Katherine Kimball

Mint Julep Slush

Definitive proof that bourbon and ice belong together.

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Photo: Margaret Houston

The Evening Edition

A bourbon-and-coffee cocktail from Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Mississippi.

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Photo: Courtesy of Saint Leo Lounge

Martha Stewart’s Batched Mint Juleps

When life gives you seventeen lemons, throw a party.

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Photo: Dana Gallagher

Winner’s Circle

An effervescent bourbon cocktail with a floral twist that’s anything but ordinary.

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Photo: Jessica Ebelhar

Boulevardier

The drink is simply a Negroni that replaces gin with bourbon, which brings sweetness and oaky spice.

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Photo: Jacqueline Stofsick

The Commonwealth

Kentucky’s Ale-8-One gets the cocktail treatment.

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Photo: Margaret Houston

Sip Your Baklava

A new Nashville hotspot celebrates the Middle Eastern dessert—in cocktail form.

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Photo: Courtesy of Red Pebbles Hospitality

Humble Baron Smokehouse Bloody

The mixologist at Nearest Green Distillery dares to get saucy.

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Photo: Courtesy of Humble Baron

Summery Garden Old-Fashioned

Herbs, peaches, and bourbon come together in this riff on an old-fashioned.

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Photo: Margaret Houston

Pecan Pie Martini

The ultimate fall dessert drink from Dancing Bear Lodge.

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Photo: Courtesy of Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro

The Queen Bee

This spring tipple combines bourbon with an easy-to-make thyme-honey syrup and amontillado sherry.

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Photo: Mia Yakel

Boulevardier Meets Negroni in the Dad’s Counsel

A fatherly wisdom–inspired cocktail that chooses not to choose.

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Photo: Simon Davidson

Bourbon & Coke

This “reengineered” version of the classic Southern concoction uses a Coca-Cola syrup to lightly flavor a shot of bourbon.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

The Old-Fashioned

This variation on the classic comes courtesy of 610 Magnolia, a New American bistro located in the heart of historic Old Louisville.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Shelby Drink Your Juice

Steel Magnolias–themed cocktail for all the Shelbys out there—and Clairees, Truvys, Ouisers, Annelles, and M’Lynns.

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Photo: Courtesy of North of Bourbon

New-Fashioned

A sophisticated yet approachable bourbon cocktail that’s perfect for any occasion.

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Photo: Jessica Ebelhar

The Ramblin’ Man

The Silver Dollar in Louisville, Kentucky warmly embraces its bluegrass home in this locally sourced libation made with homemade honey syrup.

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Bourbon “Tea”

St. Germain, ginger ale, and simple syrup make for a race-day cocktail that goes down easy.

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Photo: Margaret Houston

The Good Dog

Here’s to your trusty new companion.

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Photo: Steve Russell

A Jazzed-Up Hot Toddy

The Listening Room in Nashville brings back live music and hot drinks to warm up Music City.

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Photo: Courtesy of the Listening Room

Holy Muscadine Sour

Basil, orange bitters, and muscadine join bourbon for a musky, herbal cocktail from chef Dean Neff.

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Photo: Andrew Sherman

Frozen Bourbon Milk Punch

A velveteen sipper from New Orleans, this easy-to-make frozen concoction makes for a tasty grown-up dessert.

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Photo: Alison Gootee

Satsuma Whiskey Cider

A smooth-sipping fall cocktail.

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Photo: Timothy Pakron

Strawberry Fizz Cocktail

A celebratory sip from Joe Stinchcomb of Saint Leo Lounge in Oxford, Mississippi.

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Photo: Johnny Autry | Food Styling by Charlotte Autry

G&G Anniversary Punch

Bourbon’s spiciness stands up to the other ingredients—some of which can be, frankly, a little bossy—in this G&G signature punch.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Bourbon and Ginger

Georgia chef Hugh Acheson is behind this elevated take on a classic gameday cocktail. Make the ginger syrup a day ahead for an easy tote to the tailgate.

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Photo: Margaret Houston

Full Sail

A perfect balance of sweet and spicy that’s ideal for summer gatherings.

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Photo: Jessica Ebelhar

Breakfast at George’s

Go beyond the standard coffee cocktail with this recipe from Tristan Ferchl of the Catahoula Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Stone Fence Sour

An updated take on the drink that quenched colonial America.

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Photo: Julie Soefer

Sweet Texas Tea

Sweet-tea syrup, lemon, mint, and a healthy pour of bourbon make for a potent take on the South’s quencher of choice.

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Photo: Johnny Autry

Paper Plane

Take flight with this herbaceous treat from the Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

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Photo: Jessica Ebelhar

Kentucky Mulep

Louisville’s bar Vetti blends two classic bourbon pairings into one winning drink.

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Photo: Jessica Fey