Hot days and sticky air might not make you think of bourbon, but don’t count it out. With the right mix, summer bourbon cocktails can be bold, smooth, and surprisingly refreshing. Bourbon isn’t just for cold weather anymore. It has real summer potential.
These 10 summer bourbon cocktails will cool you down and add some flavor to your evenings.
Ready to find your new favorite summer sip? Let’s get started.
1. Bourbon Peach Smash
A juicy mix of bourbon, fresh peaches, and mint for the ultimate Southern-style summer refresher.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ ripe peach (sliced)
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 5 mint leaves
- Crushed ice
Looks & Tastes:
Golden, peach-flecked, and minty green—this drink looks like a summer sunset in a glass. It’s juicy, slightly sweet, and oh-so-cooling.
How to Make It:
Muddle peach slices, mint, and lemon juice in a shaker. Add bourbon and simple syrup, then shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with more mint or a peach slice.
2. Spiked Blackberry Lemonade
A sweet and tart twist on lemonade with a bold splash of bourbon and fresh blackberries.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ cup lemonade
- 4-5 blackberries
- ½ oz honey syrup (1:1 honey and warm water)
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Deep purple with golden hues from the bourbon—it’s fruity, tangy, and lightly sweet with a citrusy kick.
How to Make It:
Muddle blackberries in a shaker, then add bourbon, lemonade, and honey syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a tall glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lemon and a blackberry skewer.
3. Maple Bourbon Fizz
A bubbly, slightly sweet cocktail with maple syrup and a splash of soda that feels like brunch in a glass.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz maple syrup
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- Club soda
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Light amber with bubbles rising—expect a mix of smoky-sweet and citrus sparkle.
How to Make It:
Shake bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice with ice. Strain into a highball glass, top with soda, and stir. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
4. Cucumber Mint Julep
A cool and crisp take on the classic julep, perfect for hot afternoons.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 4 cucumber slices
- 6 mint leaves
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Crushed ice
Looks & Tastes:
Vibrantly green with hints of gold—refreshingly cool with a vegetal twist.
How to Make It:
Muddle cucumber and mint with syrup. Add bourbon and shake with ice. Strain into a julep cup over crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and cucumber ribbon.
5. Bourbon Watermelon Cooler
Juicy watermelon and smoky bourbon team up in this ultra-refreshing summer cooler.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3 oz watermelon juice (fresh or blended)
- ½ oz lime juice
- ½ oz agave syrup
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Bright pink and golden—it’s fruity, tangy, and slightly smoky.
How to Make It:
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with a watermelon wedge or lime wheel.
6. Citrus Bourbon Spritz
Orange and lemon juices meet bourbon and bubbles for a zesty, sparkling cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz orange juice
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Sparkling water
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Bright, fizzy, and golden-orange—it’s tart, lightly sweet, and refreshing.
How to Make It:
Shake bourbon, citrus juices, and syrup with ice. Strain into a glass and top with sparkling water. Stir gently and garnish with citrus peel.
7. Bourbon Basil Smash
Herbal meets bold with this basil-forward cocktail that’s crisp and complex.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 5-6 fresh basil leaves
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz honey syrup
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Green-tinted and earthy—it’s citrusy with a peppery herbal finish.
How to Make It:
Muddle basil with lemon juice and honey syrup. Add bourbon and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with more basil.
8. Pineapple Bourbon Punch
A tropical, party-ready drink with pineapple juice, lime, and a bourbon kick.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- ½ oz lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Dash of Angostura bitters
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Golden-yellow and tropical—it’s sweet, tart, and slightly spicy from the bitters.
How to Make It:
Shake everything with ice, strain into a glass over ice, and garnish with a pineapple slice or mint.
9. Cherry Cola Bourbon Float
Dessert meets drink with cherry cola, bourbon, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ cup cherry cola
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
Looks & Tastes:
Dark and bubbly with creamy vanilla on top—it’s indulgent, fizzy, and sweet.
How to Make It:
Add bourbon and cola to a tall glass. Drop in the ice cream scoop and top with a cherry. Grab a spoon and straw—you’ll need both.
10. Iced Bourbon Tea
Southern iced tea with a smooth bourbon upgrade. Sweet, cold, and dangerously easy to sip.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3 oz cold black tea
- ½ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Ice
Looks & Tastes:
Golden brown and classic—it’s subtly sweet with a crisp tea flavor and a warm bourbon finish.
How to Make It:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass over more ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge or mint sprig.
Final Sip
These 10 bourbon cocktails are built for summer but still hold onto that rich, smoky soul you love in the colder months. Whether you’re poolside, on the porch, or just trying to survive another blazing afternoon, one of these drinks — inspired by a classic bourbon cocktail recipe — is bound to hit the spot.
Now grab that bottle, chill your glass, and start sipping like a summer bourbon pro.
