The black bourbon Guy's Top 5
4th of July Cocktails
July 4th is upon us. Each year, this holiday reminds me of the summer of 1995, when I first read Frederick Douglass’ famous speech on the topic. Current events have shown us that his words are as relevant now as they were then. But just as Douglass chose not to despair on that day, neither will I. Change will come again, as it did once before. In the meantime, let’s enjoy a few good cocktails as we work towards that goal.
Here’s a list of the 5 best whiskey cocktail recipes to enjoy on the 4th of July:
Whiskey Smash
Whiskey Smash: Made with whiskey, lemon, and mint, this refreshing classic cocktail is both simple and delicious. It is perfect for summer cocktail parties, and can be easily customized to your taste.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 3 lemon wedges
- 4 mint leaves
- Garnish: mint sprig
Directions:
- Muddle the lemon wedges in a shaker.
- Add bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves and ice, and shake until well-chilled.
- Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig.
Gold Rush
This cocktail blends bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon, for a whiskey twist on a classic gin cocktail, the Bee’s Knees. This refreshing drink is made with bourbon, lemon juice, and honey.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- ¾ oz honey syrup
- Garnish: lemon twist
Directions:
- Add the bourbon, honey syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a chilled rocks glass over one large ice cube.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Mint Julep
The quintessential Kentucky Derby cocktail! Made with bourbon (or rye), mint leaves, sugar (or simple syrup), and club soda or seltzer water. garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¼ oz simple syrup
- 8 mint leaves
- Garnish: Angostura bitters
Directions:
- In a Julep cup or rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the simple syrup.
- Add the bourbon then pack the glass tightly with crushed ice.
- Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.
- Top with more crushed ice to form an ice dome, and garnish with a mint sprig and a few drops of bitters (optional).
New york Sour
Identical to a classic Whiskey Sour, but with the addition of red wine floated on top for added depth of flavor!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¾ oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
- ¾ oz honey syrup
- Garnish: lemon twist
Directions:
- Add the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white (optional) into a shaker with ice and shake hard until well-chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Slowly pour the red wine over the back of a bar spoon so that the wine floats on top of the drink.
Tennessee Lemonade
Order a glass of lemonade at some Tennessee restaurants, and you might end up pleasantly surprised when they serve you this refreshing highball.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Tennessee whiskey
- 1 oz triple sec
- ½ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 4 oz lemon-lime soda
- Garnish: lemon wedge
Directions:
- Add the whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
- Top with the lemon-lime soda and stir gently and briefly to combine.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Now that you’ve got your 4th of July whiskey recipes down, here are a few extras if you really want to impress your crew. Next up, fire up the grill, turn up your best cookout playlist, and celebrate the 4th in style.