Did you know that September is National Bourbon Month? Well, now you know!  And because you’re an educated bourbon drinker, you know that all bourbons are whiskey but not all whiskeys are bourbon. And that Bourbon can be made anywhere in the U.S., but most bourbon is produced in Kentucky.  Didn’t know? Ok, catch up here.

Now on to the good stuff.  While Mint Juleps and Old-Fashioneds are perfectly acceptable, we always like to up the ante.  Give these bourbon cocktails a try instead:

1. Bourbon Peach Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons simply syrup
• 1 tablespoon peach schnapps
• 2 tablespoons club soda
• 3 to 4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters (optional)
• Ice
• Garnishes: a peach slice, a lemon slice, and a fresh mint sprig

Instructions:

Combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and peach schnapps in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Cover and shake until chilled (about 30 seconds). Strain bourbon mixture into glass filled with ice and top with club soda and, if desired, bitters.  Add garnishes.

2. The John Collins

Ingredients:

• 2 fluid ounces bourbon
• 1 fluid ounce lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup
• 2 cups ice, divided
• 2 fluid ounces club soda
• Ice
• 1 orange slice
• 1 lemon slice
• 1 maraschino cherry

Instructions:

Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 cup ice, cover and shake until chilled. Strain into a Collins glass. Add 1 cup ice, fill with club soda, and stir.  Garnish with slice of orange and lemon and a maraschino cherry.

3. Bourbon and Grapefruit Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
• 1/2 tablespoon simple syrup
• 2 basil leaves
• Ice
• 1 grapefruit slice and 1 preserved cherry, for garnish

Instructions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, bourbon, simple syrup and basil. Fill a chilled rocks glass with ice. Strain the drink into the ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with the grapefruit slice and cherry.

4. Champagne Bourbon Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 1 shot of bourbon
• Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled

Instructions:

Combine the sugar, water, bean and seeds in small pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool to room temperature, then discard the vanilla bean.  Add 1 shot of bourbon and 2 tablespoons vanilla bean syrup to a chilled champagne flute. Fill to the top with sparkling wine, and serve.

5. Bourbon Rickey

Ingredients:

• Half lime
• 1.5 oz bourbon
• Club Soda

Instructions:

Fill a highball glass with cracked ice.  Squeeze the lime half into the glass and drop it in.  Add the bourbon and top with club soda.  Stir briefly to combine.

Cheers!

Ashlee