Essential Bourbon Cocktails: The Derby

The Derby 

• 1 1/2 ounces Bulleit Bourbon
• 1 ounce Bénédictine D.O.M.
• 2 dashes angostura bitters

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add bourbon, Bénédictine D.O.M., and bitters and shake vigorously until well chilled, about 20 seconds.

Strain into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass.

Essential Bourbon Cocktails: Boulevardier

The Boulevardier

1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. Campari

1 oz. sweet vermouth

Ice cubes

Garnish: orange slice, lemon twist or cherry.

Stir long and well with ice in a mixing glass and strain into a cocktail glass.

Essential Bourbon Cocktails: Mint Julep

Mint Julep    

4 fresh mint sprigs
2 1/2 oz bourbon whiskey
1 tsp powdered sugar
2 tsp water

Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a collins glass. Fill the glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

Essential Bourbon Cocktails: Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour

2 oz blended whiskey
 juice of 1/2 lemons
 1/2 tsp powdered sugar
 1 cherry
 1/2 slice lemon

 Shake blended whiskey, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey sour glass. Decorate with the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.

Essential Burbon Cocktails: Old Fashioned

 Old fashioned

2 oz bourbon whiskey
2 dashes Angostura® bitters
1 splash water
1 tsp sugar
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange wedge

 Mix sugar, water and angostura bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Drop in a cherry and an orange wedge. Muddle into a paste using a muddler or the back end of a spoon. Pour in bourbon, fill with ice cubes, and stir.