What to Mix with Bourbon: Complete Guide (Simple to Complex)
Tips & Tricks · 2026-08-11 · 10 min read · by Jake
You bought a bottle of bourbon and now you're staring at it wondering what else you need. Good news: bourbon is one of the most mixable spirits. Its natural sweetness, vanilla notes, and caramel character play well with almost everything — from simple mixers to complex cocktail ingredients.
Here's everything that works with bourbon, from the dead-simple to the more involved.
The Simple Mixers (Two Ingredients)
Bourbon and Ginger Ale — The classic. Sweet, spicy, refreshing. Use ginger beer instead of ginger ale for more kick. This is what bartenders drink after their shift.
Bourbon and Coke — Works better than you'd think. The cola's caramel notes complement bourbon's vanilla. Use Mexican Coke for a cleaner taste.
Bourbon and Lemonade — Summer in a glass. Two ounces bourbon, fill with lemonade over ice. Fresh lemonade is better but even store-bought works.
Bourbon and Apple Cider — Perfect for fall. Two ounces bourbon, fill with cold apple cider. Add a cinnamon stick if you're feeling festive.
Bourbon and Sweet Tea — A Southern staple. Two ounces bourbon in a glass of sweet iced tea with lemon. Arnold Palmer meets happy hour.
Classic Bourbon Cocktails
Old Fashioned — The king of bourbon cocktails. Bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel. Takes 45 seconds to make and tastes like a $18 bar drink.
Whiskey Sour — Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, optional egg white. The cocktail that converts people who think they don't like whiskey.
Mint Julep — Bourbon, mint, sugar, crushed ice. The Kentucky Derby drink that's genuinely refreshing in summer.
Gold Rush — Bourbon, honey syrup, fresh lemon juice. A modern classic that's basically a whiskey sour with honey instead of sugar. The honey adds floral complexity.
Boulevardier — Bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari (equal parts). A Negroni with bourbon instead of gin. Warmer, richer, perfect for fall and winter.
What Works Flavor-Wise
Citrus: Lemon and orange are bourbon's best friends. Fresh lemon juice in sours, orange peel in Old Fashioneds, orange juice in brunch drinks.
Sweeteners: Simple syrup, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, demerara — all work. Each adds different character. Honey is floral, maple is buttery, demerara is rich and molasses-like.
Bitters: Angostura is the standard, but orange bitters, chocolate bitters, and walnut bitters all pair beautifully with bourbon's vanilla and caramel notes.
Fruit: Apple, peach, cherry, blackberry, and pear all complement bourbon. Muddle fresh fruit or use fruit syrups/liqueurs.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and ginger all work. These are the same flavors already present in bourbon from barrel aging, so they amplify what's already there.
Vermouth: Sweet vermouth for Manhattans, dry vermouth for... well, nobody really makes a dry bourbon Martini, but sweet vermouth is essential.
What Doesn't Work
Tonic water — the quinine bitterness clashes with bourbon's sweetness. Gin and tequila work with tonic; bourbon doesn't.
Cream/milk — unlike Irish whiskey or Scotch, bourbon's high corn sweetness gets cloying with dairy. There are exceptions (bourbon milkshakes exist) but generally avoid.
Blue curacao and other artificial-tasting liqueurs — bourbon's natural complexity gets buried under synthetic flavors.
Energy drinks — please don't. The caffeine masks how much you're drinking and the artificial sweeteners fight with bourbon's natural character.
Best Bourbons for Mixing
Buffalo Trace ($25) — The all-rounder. Works in everything from Old Fashioneds to whiskey sours. Smooth, slightly sweet, universally available.
Evan Williams Single Barrel ($28) — Punches above its price. More complex than Buffalo Trace with extra vanilla and oak. Great in stirred drinks.
Wild Turkey 101 ($25) — Higher proof (50.5%) means it stands up to mixers without getting lost. The best choice for cocktails where bourbon needs to punch through other flavors.
Maker's Mark ($30) — Wheated bourbon that's softer and sweeter. Good for sours and drinks where you want less bite.
Don't use anything over $40 for mixing. In a cocktail, the difference between a $25 and $60 bourbon is negligible. Save expensive bottles for sipping neat.