If you walk into any of the best whiskey bars, you will certainly find Bourbon on the menu. This is an American type of whiskey, which is primarily made from corn and aged in a barrel. Not only can it be enjoyed on the rocks, but it works great in a cocktail too.
Surprising Facts About Bourbon:
- The weather affects the taste – During the aging process, the weather has an impact on the taste of Bourbon. This is because the barrels are kept in rickhouses, which are essentially big multi-story warehouses. Rickhouses aren’t usually climate-controlled and thus the weather can have an impact, as it causes the barrels to contract and expand, which in turn imparts different flavors into the Bourbon.
- Barrels can only be used once – The barrels that are used to make Bourbon can only be used once. Afterward, they are reused to make other kinds of whiskeys, which is just as well, considering they cost approximately $120 each.
- Bourbon distilleries were converted to make penicillin and fuel alcohol – This occurred during World War II. Penicillin had only just been invented and thus the distilleries were repurposed. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that the market for the spirit picked up again.
Top Five Bourbon Cocktails:
Below, we will take a look at some of the best bourbon cocktails. Of course, if you know someone who has been to one of the young adult rehab programs, you can make mocktails for everyone based on these.
- Old Fashioned: Number one on our Bourbon cocktail list is Old Fashioned. This is one of the most popular whiskey cocktails. It’s easy to make. All you need to do is place sugar in a glass and douse with Angostura bitters. Add a few drops of water and stir until you have dissolved the sugar. Finally, add Bourbon then stir and finish off by adding ice cubes.
- Mint Julep – Mint Julep can be a little bit more difficult to make, but it’s worth the effort. Grab a tall glass and place water and sugar in the bottom. Stir this until the sugar is dissolved. Add mint and gently muddle. Fill the glass halfway with crush ice and add Bourbon. Afterward, stir this and then fill the glass with more crushed ice and keep stirring until the glass has frosted. Add sprigs of fresh mint for the finishing touch.
- Whisky Sour – Pour the following into a cocktail shaker – an egg white, Bourbon, freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chill cocktail glass. Whisky sour is a real crowd pleaser; it’s easy to drink.
- Blushing Betty – Add ice to a cocktail shaker, and then add Bourbon, grapefruit juice and simple syrup. Shake and strain into a glass that’s already filled with ice. The grapefruit works beautifully with the warmness of Bourbon.
- Boulevardier – Boulevardier tastes like Bourbon Negroni. All you need to do is pour Bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass. Fill with cracked ice and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel or a cherry.
