The best bourbon based cocktails for any occasion

When it comes to bourbon and whiskey, our preference is always to sip neat, however, we can usually find room for a cocktail. While most purists would have you believe that drinking whiskey any way other than neat is sacrilege, there's always a time and a place for cocktails and mixers, particularly when entertaining or enjoying time with friends and family.

While we wouldn’t ever recommend using something as prestigious or rare as a Pappy in a cocktail, there are a number of entry to mid-range bourbon whiskeys that make beautiful complementary spirits for classically inspired cocktails.

Below you’ll find some of our favorite cocktail recipes made with everyday, accessible bottles that won’t necessarily break the bank. Read on…

Michter’s Bourbon Espresso Martini

There's something a little bit different about a bourbon espresso martini. This quirky take on the contemporary classic substitutes the vodka and replaces it with the exceptionally versatile US-1 Small Batch Bourbon from Michter's.

• 1.5 parts Michter's US-1 Small Batch Bourbon
• 3/4 parts Coffee Liqueur
• 1 shot of espresso coffee

Shake and serve on ice, then garnish with coffee beans to finish.

A simple, delicate and elegant cocktail that will electrify your palate and liven up even the dullest of parties.

Michter’s Whiskey Sour

Simple, yet sophisticated. The bartender's best friend.

The whiskey sour is an undisputed classic in cocktail circles, and here it comes reinvented with the superb US-1 Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey from Michter's.

• 2 parts US-1 Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey
• 1 part lemon juice
• 1/2 part sugar syrup
• 1/2 part egg white
• Square, clear ice

Served shaken, on ice. Cooled for 30 seconds. Garnish with a slice of lemon. Enjoy!

Kentucky Owl Hot Toddy

Hoot hoot! This punchy spiced Hot Toddy from Kentucky Owl is just that, an absolute hoot! Beautifully appointed and with a delicious balance of zest and spice, this cocktail is ideal for the colder months and is the perfect recipe to warm you up in winter.

Apple cider

2 cinnamon sticks

1 lemon, juiced

3 oz Kentucky Owl

2 tbsp honey

2 apple slices (optional)

2 star anise (whole)

For those who love a modern twist on an age-old classic, look no further than Kentucky Owl’s Confiscated for an elegant depth of flavor that beautifully melds the spice, sweetness, and bite of the Hot Toddy.

Weller’s Special Raspberry Beret

There’s something a little bit special about this cocktail, and we’re not just talking about the Weller Special Reserve that magnificently complements the zing of lemon and the succulent sweetness of raspberry syrup.

A stunning, refreshing cocktail that you don’t see every day, Weller’s entry-level special reserve bourbon is an elite mixing bourbon that displays some of its finest characteristics when introduced alongside complementary components.

Raspberry Beret

½ oz Weller Special Reserve Bourbon

¾ oz dry vermouth

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz raspberry syrup*

Egg white (optional)

Churchill’s Breakfast

A meal fit for a king, or a Prime Minister if you will. Churchill was revered for his daily routines which often combined a peerless and diligent dedication to work alongside a passion and fervor for whiskey.

Churchill’s breakfast is a cocktail that holds its own against any and all challengers, bringing the refreshing bitterness of cold brew coffee, the earthy spice of rye whiskey and a complex and considered sweetness produced by the introduction of maple syrup in the drink.

While it might not be recommended as the only thing you have for breakfast, there’s no doubt that Churchill’s breakfast will leave you wanting another…

Churchill’s Breakfast

2 3/4oz Michter's US-1 Rye

1oz cold brew coffee

3/4oz maple syrup

3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

2 cinnamon sticks

Char the end of the cinnamon stick and coat the inside of a coupe with the smoke. Save sticks for garnish. Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, along with a large ice cube, and shake vigorously. Strain drink in a coupe glass and garnish with charred cinnamon sticks.