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4 Bourbon Cocktail Recipes, from the Boulevardier to the New Fashioned

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A Perfect Manhattan is 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth, 1/2 oz Contratto Vermouth Bianco and a dash of Angostura bitters, stirred with ice, strained into a cocktail glass and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Below are that recipe and three more bourbon cocktails, each with measurements, method and the bottles it calls for.

For more drinks by spirit and season, see our Cocktail Recipes.

1. Boulevardier

Boulevardier

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Basil Hayden's Bourbon
  • 1 oz Aperol Aperitivo
  • 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth

Steps

  1. Pour the ingredients directly into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  2. Garnish with an orange peel.

2. Perfect Manhattan

Perfect Manhattan

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Knob Creek Bourbon
  • 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth
  • 1/2 oz Contratto Vermouth Bianco
  • Dash of Angostura bitters
  • Maraschino cherry

Steps

  1. Stir all ingredients together with ice.
  2. Strain into a cocktail glass.
  3. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

3. Rio Julep

Rio Julep with Maker's Mark

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Maker's Mark Bourbon
  • 1/2 oz Giffard Banane du Bresil (banana liqueur)
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • Dash of aromatic bitters
  • 8-10 mint leaves

Steps

  1. Muddle the mint leaves with the brown sugar and bitters in a rocks glass.
  2. Add the Maker's Mark and banana liqueur and stir gently.
  3. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
  4. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a banana chip.

4. New Fashioned

New Fashioned with Knob Creek

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Knob Creek Bourbon
  • 1 oz Luxardo Amaretto
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup
  • 3 dashes bitters

Steps

  1. Stir all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  2. Strain into a rocks glass to serve neat and chilled.
  3. Garnish with a sliver of orange peel.

Bourbon Cocktail Questions, Answered

What is a Boulevardier?

A bourbon cocktail built in the glass. This version is 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz Aperol and 1 oz sweet vermouth over ice, garnished with an orange peel.

What makes a Manhattan "perfect"?

It uses both a sweet and a white vermouth: here 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula and 1/2 oz Contratto Vermouth Bianco with 2 oz bourbon and a dash of Angostura bitters.

What is a Rio Julep?

A julep made with 2 oz Maker's Mark and 1/2 oz banana liqueur, muddled mint, brown sugar and bitters, served over crushed ice.

What is a New Fashioned?

An Old Fashioned variation with 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz amaretto, 1/2 oz simple syrup and 3 dashes bitters, stirred with ice and served neat with an orange peel.

More guides: Cocktail Recipes · Baking with Bourbon · Kentucky Derby Drinks · Fall Cocktail Recipes