For The Love of Martha: Whiskey and Bourbon Cocktails

The following images and text are courtesy of Martha Stewart and the article can be found in full here.

Sour Cherry Old-Fashioned

Get whisked away by a refreshing cocktail made with whiskey or bourbon. The alcohol works in summery cocktails such as the classic mint julep, or in more autumnal fare such as the maple bourbon cocktail.

The punch of sour cherries counters the rich oak flavor from the whiskey.

Ingredients

• 24 frozen sour cherries
• 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 cup whiskey
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons kirsch
• Thin lemon-zest strips (from 1 lemon)

Directions

1. Place cherries in a heatproof bowl. Stir water and sugar in small saucepan to dissolve sugar. Bring to a boil, and pour over cherries. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Drain cherries, reserving syrup. Thread 4 cherries onto each of 6 skewers. Make 3 drinks at a time: Pour 6 tablespoons whiskey, 3 tablespoons kirsch, and 4 1/2 teaspoons reserved syrup in a cocktail shaker 3/4 filled with ice. Shake and pour into chilled glasses. Garnish each with a skewer and 2 to 3 strips lemon zest. Repeat for the second batch.

Mint Julep

One of the oldest American cocktails, the mint julep originated in Virginia and was popularized in Kentucky. It is the signature cocktail of the American South.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon water
• 8 fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 2 2/3 ounces (1/3 cup) bourbon

Directions

1. Stir together sugar and water in a mint julep cup (or 8-ounce glass) until sugar dissolves. Add mint, and muddle gently using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill with crushed ice, and add bourbon. Stir until outside of cup is frosted. Garnish with mint sprigs.

 

Whiskey Sours

A classic mixed drink finished off with a buoy-like cherry floating on top.

Ingredients

• 4 cups orange juice (from 8 oranges)
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 8 lemons)
• 1 cup triple sec
• 2 1/2 cups whiskey
• Ice (for serving)
• Orange slices (for serving)
• Maraschino cherry (for serving)

Directions

1. In a pitcher, combine orange juice, lemon juice, triple sec, and whiskey. Serve over ice, topped with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, if desired.

Sazerac

A New Orleans original, this drink is best when made with rye whiskey, but top-shelf bourbon works too.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons water
• 4 ounces rye whiskey
• 8 dashes bitters (preferably Peychaud’s)
• 2 teaspoons anise-flavored liqueur, such as Herbsaint or Pernod
• Lemon twists

Directions

1. Fill two rocks glasses with ice to chill. In a third glass or cocktail shaker, stir together sugar and water until sugar dissolves. Add rye whiskey, bitters, and ice. Stir until chilled.
2. Discard ice from glasses and add 1 teaspoon anise-flavored liqueur to each. Swirl to coat bottom and sides of glasses with liqueur, then pour off extra. Strain rye mixture into glasses and garnish with lemon twists.

The Presbyterian

Making this traditional cocktail is simple; it’s equal parts whiskey or bourbon, club soda, and ginger ale.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces whiskey or Bourbon
• 2 ounces club soda
• 2 ounces ginger ale
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Directions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice. Add whiskey, club soda, ginger ale, and bitters. Stir and serve.

Whiskey Lemonade

This cocktail is practically begging to be sipped while sitting on a sunny porch swing.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons whiskey
• 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup
• Ice
• Lemon zest

Directions

1. In a glass, combine lemon juice, whiskey, and simple syrup over ice. Garnish with lemon zest. Add a splash of water if desired.

The Big Apple

Fall flavors from a lady apple and sparkling apple cider make this drink great for transitioning seasons.

Ingredients

• 1 lady apple, cut in half lengthwise, or 2 slices of a larger apple
• 3 ounces whiskey
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 2 dashes bitters
• 1 cup sparkling apple cider

Directions

1. Fill a large cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add apple cider, whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. Shake. Strain into two glasses. Garnish each with an apple half or slice.

Bourbon and Ginger

A spritz of fresh lime juice gives a citrusy finish to this effervescent cocktail.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces bourbon
• 4 glasses filled with ice
• 1 can (12 ounces) ginger ale
• 4 lime wedges

Directions

1. Divide bourbon among 4 glasses filled with ice. Divide ginger ale among glasses and squeeze 1 lime wedge into each. Serve immediately.

Sparkling Red-Wine Cocktails

Pair bourbon or another American whiskey with sparkling red wine and serve in a cinnamon sugar-rimmed glass.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 1/2 cups Lambrusco or other sparkling red wine
• 24 ounces sparkling orange beverage, such as Orangina
• 4 ounces Bourbon or other American whiskey
• Orange wedge and slices
• Ice

Directions

1. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and spread on a small plate. In a large pitcher, combine red wine, orange beverage, and Bourbon. Rub an orange wedge around rims of eight rocks glasses, then dip glasses in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Fill with ice, add cocktail mixture, and serve with orange slices.

Manhattan

This classic cocktail can be served in a martini glass for a sophisticated touch.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 ounces bourbon or rye
• 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Ice cubes
• Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Directions

1. Shake bourbon, vermouth, and bitters over ice. Strain into a cocktail glass; garnish with cherry.
2. Shake bourbon, vermouth, and bitters over ice. Strain into a cocktail glass; garnish with cherry.

Amaretto-Bourbon Punch

Balance out a robust bourbon with sweet additions such as amaretto and sparkling apple juice.

Ingredients

• 5 cups seltzer
• 4 cups bourbon
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 16 lemons)
• 2 cups sparkling apple juice
• 1 cup Simple Syrup
• 3/4 cup amaretto or other almond-flavored liqueur
• Ice cubes
• Garnish: lemon slices and Maraschino cherries

Directions

1. Combine seltzer, bourbon, juices, simple syrup, and amaretto in a punch bowl. Fill with ice. Garnish with lemon slices and cherries.

Maple-Bourbon Cider

This autumnal drink gets its sweetness from maple syrup, but a kick of cayenne keeps things interesting.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 6 ounces Bourbon
• 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
• 1 cup apple cider
• Cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Fill four glasses and a cocktail shaker with ice. To shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider; shake vigorously. Strain into glasses and top each with a pinch of cayenne pepper, if desired.

Citrus Arnold Palmer with Bourbon

English breakfast tea and bourbon complemented by citrus make this drink as unique as it is delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 cups boiling water
• 4 teaspoons loose English breakfast tea (or 4 tea bags)
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• Juice of 1 orange
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup Simple Syrup
• Ice, for serving
• Orange slices, for garnish

Directions

1. Pour water over tea, and steep 5 to 7 minutes. Strain, and refrigerate. Stir in bourbon, juices, and syrup. Serve over ice with garnish.

Cherry-Orange Bourbon

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh or frozen sour cherries
• 1 strip orange zest
• 500 ml Bourbon

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a clean one-liter jar with a lid. Store in the refrigerator and shake daily for 4 days until infused, then strain and discard solids.

Peach and Blackberry Muddle

Fresh fruit is complemented by mint in this bourbon-based cocktail.

Ingredients

• 4 thin slices peach
• 6 blackberries
• 2 large sprigs mint
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 ounces bourbon
• Ice
• Seltzer

Directions

1. In a double old-fashioned glass, combine 2 peach slices, 3 blackberries, mint, honey, and lemon juice. Mash gently with the back of a spoon until fruit releases juices. Add bourbon, remaining peach slices, and remaining blackberries. Fill glass with ice and top with seltzer.

Blackberry-Mint Julep

This slushy concoction has a deep purple color thanks to the blackberries.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1 pint blackberries
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 4 cups small ice cubes
• 4 sprigs mint, for garnishing

Directions

1. Roughly chop mint leaves.
2. Puree the mint, blackberries, and sugar in a blender. Press through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard seeds.
3. Rinse blender, then return puree to blender, and add bourbon and small ice cubes; blend until smooth. Divide mixture among 4 glasses. Garnish each with a mint sprig.

Irish Buck

This lime-laden drink doesn’t have to be enjoyed just on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Ingredients

• Ice
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 3 ounces ginger ale
• Lime wedge

Directions

1. Fill a glass with ice. Add whiskey, lime juice, and ginger ale. Stir and garnish with lime wedge.

Peach Juleps

A twist on the classic, these juleps are just peachy.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 1/2 cups store-bought peach juice
• 1 can (12 ounces) club soda
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• Crushed ice, for serving

Directions

1. In a medium bowl or pitcher, combine mint and sugar. With a wooden spoon, mash leaves until bruised. Stir in peach juice, club soda, and bourbon.
2. Serve over crushed ice; garnish with more mint.

Cranberry Old-Fashioned, Cider Smash, and American in Paris

This drink marries bourbon with the tart flavor of cranberry. It’s strong, so you may want to add an extra tablespoon or two of water when muddling.

Ingredients

• 8 fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 1 strip (2 inches) orange zest
• 2 ounces bourbon

Directions

1. Muddle cranberries, sugar, bitters, and orange zest with water in a medium glass until sugar dissolves. Pour in bourbon. Add ice cubes.