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Spirits

Bourbon

  • Spirit
  • 45% ABV
  • 67 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You enjoy rich, complex spirits with oak, vanilla or smoky character.
  • ✓There are 67 drinks on WhatDrink using this.

Skip if…

  • ✗You prefer light, neutral or sweet spirits.

At a Glance

75 kcalCalories
45%ABV
0gSugar
0gCarbs
SpiritType
67Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Bourbon?

Bourbon is an American whiskey used in Old Fashioned-style drinks, sours, highballs, juleps and stirred classics. It adds oak, vanilla, caramel and grain sweetness that balances citrus, bitters, mint and fruit.

What does Bourbon taste like?

Rich, oaky and lightly sweet, with vanilla, caramel, corn, spice and toasted wood notes. Bourbon pairs strongly with lemon, sugar, bitters, mint, orange, ginger, vermouth, apple and cherry flavours.

Bourbon profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: BoldBalancedBeginner-friendly: Medium

Best used for: old fashioneds, whiskey sours, manhattans, tropical drinks

  • Appears in 67+ recipes
  • Has 5 common substitutes
  • High-strength spirit (45% ABV)

Ways to use bourbon

Cocktails (64)Punches (2)Shots (1)

Bourbon is an American whiskey used in Old Fashioned-style drinks, sours, highballs, juleps and stirred classics. It adds oak, vanilla, caramel and grain sweetness that balances citrus, bitters, mint and fruit.

Flavour profile

CaramelCornOakSpiceVanilla

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 59.15–59.15 ml; median 59.15 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 61 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml)
250
Sugar (per 100 ml)
0 g
Carbs (per 100 ml)
0 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

  • Gluten-FreeCompatible
  • KetoCompatible
  • Low-CarbCompatible
  • Low-SugarCompatible
  • VeganCompatible
  • VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Reviewed substitutes

  • Rye WhiskeySpicier and drier whiskey profile.

Reviewed ingredient substitution guidance. Results can vary by brand, quantity and preparation. These substitutions have not been tested in every individual recipe.

Commonly observed with

Lemon JuiceAngostura BittersSimple SyrupMaraschino CherryTriple SecBenedictineLemon TwistWater

Observed co-use in the reviewed recipe corpus — not a universal pairing recommendation.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T02:53:30.320595+00:00

What it is

What is bourbon in cocktails?

Bourbon brings vanilla, caramel, oak and grain-like warmth to drinks. In cocktails, it usually creates a rounder and sweeter impression than sharper or more neutral spirits.

How it's used

How bourbon is used in drinks

Bourbon works well in stirred drinks, sours, highballs and spirit-forward classics. It can handle citrus, bitters, mint, ginger, vermouth and richer sweeteners.

Pairing logic

What bourbon pairs with

Bourbon often pairs well with BBQ, steak, chocolate, citrus, spice and grilled flavors. Its oak and caramel notes can stand up to richer food without disappearing.

About this drink

Bourbon is an American whiskey style with legal production standards and a strong Kentucky association, although it is not limited only to Kentucky. Its cocktail role grew through drinks that use sweetness, bitters and citrus to frame corn-rich whiskey character.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Bourbon — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Bourbon?
There are 67 cocktail recipes featuring Bourbon in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Bourbon?
Top-ranked cocktails made with Bourbon include Bourbon A La Creme, Bourbon and Water, Bourbon Cobbler. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What is the ABV of Bourbon?
Bourbon has an ABV of approximately 45%. The exact strength varies by brand and expression.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Bourbon with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Bourbon sensory profile to find drinks I like?
If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Bourbon, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.