Treat yourself to our Bourbon Sling recipe! The blend of bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda water offers a refreshing cocktail perfect for the fall season.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 175
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Club soda - to top
- Lemon slice and cherry - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Highball Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Stirrer or Bar Spoon
Instructions
- Add Simple Syrup: Add ½ oz simple syrup into the highball glass.
- Add Lemon Juice: Measure and pour 1 oz lemon juice into the glass.
- Add Bourbon: Pour 2 oz Bourbon into the highball glass.
- Prep Glass: Fill your highball glass with ice cubes.
- Top with Club Soda: Fill the rest of the glass with club soda.
- Stir Gently: Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients gently.
- Garnish: Place a lemon slice and cherry into the glass for garnish.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon, rye whiskey can be a good substitute. It has a spicier profile than bourbon, but it still works well in this cocktail. You could also use brandy for a different flavor profile.
- Lemon Juice: If fresh lemons aren't available, you can use bottled lemon juice, but I always prefer fresh when possible. Lime juice can also work in a pinch, giving the drink a slightly different, but still delicious, tang.
- Simple Syrup: If you're out of simple syrup, you can make your own by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over heat. Alternatively, honey or agave nectar can be used for a more natural sweetness.
Making a Pitcher of Bourbon Sling:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of bourbon, 8 oz of lemon juice, and 4 oz of simple syrup. Top with club soda as needed.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir well.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled highball glasses, top with club soda, garnish with a lemon slice and cherry, and serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute; several brands are available that mimic the flavor of bourbon without the alcohol.
- Proceed As Usual: Use this non-alcoholic substitute instead of the regular bourbon, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
- Simple Syrup: Ensure your syrup is made with vegan-friendly sugar, some producers may use bone char during production.
- Garnish: Skip the cherry garnish if it's been processed with non-vegan ingredients (some maraschino cherries are colored with cochineal extract derived from insects). Opt for fresh cherries instead.
What is a Bourbon Sling?
A Bourbon Sling is a whiskey-based cocktail made of bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. This drink is easy to make as it combines the ingredients in a shaker with ice and drains into a glass. The Bourbon Sling is an interesting variant of the traditional Sling cocktail, which can be crafted using various spirits.
What is a Bourbon Sling made of – The ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to gather for a Bourbon Sling:
- Bourbon: This is the cocktail’s base spirit, providing a rich, full-bodied flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy freshness that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Simple Syrup: This sweetener enhances the bourbon’s natural flavors without overpowering them.
- Club Soda: Gives the cocktail a fizzy lift, making it more refreshing.
- Cherry and Orange Slice (for garnish): These make the drink visually appealing and add a subtle fruity undertone.
