Summer time is for lazy days and cool nights. Good friends and good times. Kickin' back at the lake and hangin' out on the porch. What goes better with a front porch than a glass of bourbon? And what better way to celebrate summer than with a cocktail or two? Put these together and you have the perfect summer cocktail! Let me introduce you to some of my favorites.
Kentucky Tea
Looking for a summer drink with a little kick to it? Look no further. All you need is your favorite Kentucky bourbon, lemonade, peach tea, and a front porch!
Ingredients:
2 oz Kentucky Bourbon
4 oz Peach Tea
1 oz Simple Syrup
Lemonade ice cubes
Lemon slices (optional)
* To make a pitcher, use 4 cups peach tea, 2 cups bourbon and 1/2 cup of sugar. Stir the sugar into the tea while it's still warm, then add bourbon. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Add lemonade cubes when serving.
Directions:
Prepare lemonade ice cubes and keep separate until ready to serve the tea. Combine bourbon, tea, and simple syrup in a glass and stir to combine. Add lemonade cubes and stir a few times to get the lemonade flavor mixed in. Garnish with lemon slices or mint leaves. If you don't have time to make lemonade ice cubes, you can substitute with 2 ounces of lemonade. You can also add some regular ice cubes to keep the drink cold.
* Turn this into a slush! Just add the ingredients to a blender or Ninja and blend 'til it reaches slushy consistency.
Serve in:
Mason jar or tumbler glass
Louisville Slush-er
This frozen concoction knocks it out of the park! It will become your go-to summertime party drink. Easy to make, and even easier to drink. No matter how much you make, it won't be enough, because everyone will be coming back for more. Batter up!
Ingredients:
12 - 16 oz Bourbon
16 oz Black Tea (boil 2 cups of water, remove from heat, add 2 tea bags & let sit for 5 minutes)
12 oz Frozen Lemonade Concentrate Undiluted
6 oz Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate Undiluted
1/2 cup Sugar (optional)
Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, or Club Soda
Lemon or Orange slices
Directions:
Combine the bourbon, tea, and sugar (if you use it) in a large bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemonade and orange juice concentrate and stir until combined. Cover the bowl, or transfer to a plastic container with a lid (ziplock bags work too). Freeze overnight. To serve, scoop slush mixture into a glass and top with Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, or Club Soda. Garnish with lemon or orange slices.
Serve in:
Mason jar, tumbler, wine glass...this drink is so good, it doesn't matter!
Southern Sour
A little sweet and a little sour, just like a southern girl should be. Made with homemade sour mix and brandy soaked cherries, it requires a bit of prep work, but it's definitely worth the wait. This will be your favorite Friday night cocktail!
Ingredients:
2 oz Kentucky Bourbon
2 oz Homemade Sour Mix
2 - 3 Dashes Bitters
* Barrel Aged Bitters offsets the tartness
Brandy Soaked Cocktail Cherries OR Maraschino Cherries
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake a few times. Pour over 2 - 3 medium sized ice cubes. Garnish with cocktail cherries or a Maraschino cherry
Serve in:
Short tumbler glass
Bourbon with a Side of Honey
Looking for the perfect weekend cocktail? This delicious twist on a Sidecar cocktail is refreshing and sweet, with just enough of a kick to let you know the weekend is here!
Ingredients:
2 oz Wild Turkey American Honey Bourbon
3/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Lemon peel for garnish
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake a few times. Serve over ice and garnish with a twisted lemon peel.
Serve in:
Short tumbler glass
Buffalo Float
Now for dessert! Perfect for summer nights on the back porch. Coming to you from the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky...it's like a Root Beer Float, adult style!
Ingredients:
2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Liqueur
4 oz Root Beer
1 - 2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream (optional)
Directions:
Put a few ice cubes in the bottom of the glass. Add bourbon cream liqueur, and top with root beer. For a creamier treat, try substituting the ice cubes for vanilla ice cream. You can thank me later.
Serve in:
Short tumbler glass (or a tall one if you need a double!)
Here's to summer nights and bourbon cocktails. I'd love for you to drop your comments below and share your favorite summertime drinks as well. Cheers!
Looking for more cocktail recipes? Check out my Travel Inspired Cocktails page.
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