Our Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail is a perfect example of the bourbon lover’s desire to mix bourbon with the familiar and the new. And if you’re a fan of the Long Island Iced Tea, then you’ll enjoy this bourbon recipe.
This little doozy has got us all head over heels with its casual sophistication, and without a doubt, we’re looking toward the upbeat vibes of a drenched bourbon summer with this drink in hand!
No matter the time of year, those who enjoy rich bourbon will find an excuse to drink, even to bend the season to whatever bourbon endeavors they can conjure up.
Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail
As a bourbon lover, I don’t want to live without my bourbon; it’s as simple as that. Bourbon speaks to my soul.
I enjoy my favorite bourbons neat or on the rocks, and there’s no better cocktail than one mixed with a potent dram of good quality bourbon.
I created this refreshing cocktail with the long dog days of summer in mind, and I think I got it right!
When I think of summer, I think of long, smoldering days that can only be tamed by tall, frosty glasses of summertime tea with a boozy bourbon punch.
This bracing cocktail is equal to measures of nostalgia and modern refreshment combined with a grown-up version of your favorite icy and refreshing tea.
Enjoy our Bourbon Sweet Tea on those endless hot summer days. Perfect!
You’ll be glad to learn that bourbon and tea, this time out; we’re using Arnold Palmer tea, equal parts lemonade and sun-tea, go quite well together.
I also love how Owl’s Brew tea cocktail mixers are 100% organic, so you can feel good about enjoying their line of products whenever and wherever.
What You’ll Need:
A Good Mixing Bourbon. What distinguishes sour mash bourbon from traditional bourbon whiskey is how it gets its start. Sour mash whiskey is made with the leftovers from a previous bourbon batch.
This process makes for a sweeter flavor, and bourbon elicits richer, in-depth caramel notes, maple, and vanilla notes with a light oakey finish. I used Henry McKenna Sour Mash Bourbon for this cocktail recipe, but feel free to use your favorite bourbon.
Honey Simple Syrup. To give this cocktail its naturally sweet taste, I made a homemade honey simple syrup using one cup of water, one cup of water, and two tablespoons of raw lavender honey. Use whatever kind of honey you have on hand.
Aromatic Bitters. Any respectable cocktail demonstrates a balance of bitter and sweet. I achieve a flavorful and suitable balance in this recipe using aromatic bitters.
Fresh Mint. Drop two large or three small fresh mint leaves into the bottom of a cocktail tin and muddle them to release the oils. Add ice cubes, along with the additional ingredients. During the shaking process, the action of the ice cubes hitting against the cocktail tin will further break apart the mint leaves, releasing a hint of mint flavor.
The motion of the ice also dilutes the cocktail, melds the flavors together, and evenly distributes those flavors throughout the entire cocktail.
Arnold Palmer Tea. Owl’s Brew makes high-quality organic tea cocktail mixers. The Owl’s Brew Pink & Black is a mixture of Darjeeling hibiscus tea, strawberry, and lemon.
Lemon Slice. For the same reasons we add lemon slices to tea, we add a slice of lemon to our bourbon and tea-based cocktail. The lemon helps brighten this beautiful cocktail and adds an attractive citrus element.
Cracked Ice. I love the rustic character of this cocktail when you fill your glass with fresh cracked ice. However, you can use whatever kind of ice you have on hand.
You Will Love This Bourbon Cocktail Because It’s:
Boozy
Yummy
Refreshing
Easy To Make
Perfect For a summer cocktail
Perfect to make for a Kentucky Derby Party
Now that you have the recipe, I can’t wait to hear what you guys think about it.
Drop me a line if you try it. I think it’s a cocktail you’ll enjoy all summer, even year-round.
Try these Iced Tea Cocktails:
Strawberry + Lemon Mint Kettle
How to make a Sweet Tea and Bourbon Cocktail
1 serving
Ingredients:
- 5-6 ice cubes for shaking (you will need additional ice cubes to serve in the glass)
- 2-3 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 ounce honey simple syrup
- 1 1/2 ounces Bourbon Whiskey
- 2 dashes of citrus bitters
- 3 1/2 ounces Arnold Palmer Tea
- lemon wedges and fresh mint sprigs for garnish
Directions:
- Drop 2-3 fresh mint leaves into the bottom of a cocktail tin, and muddle the mint leaves to release the oils.
- Add 5-6 medium ice cubes on top of the muddled mint leaves, then add 1/2 ounce of honey simple syrup, 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon whiskey, 2 dashes of citrus bitters, and 3 1/2 ounces of Arnold Palmer tea.
- Secure the lid on the cocktail shaking tin and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a standard rocks glass filled with cracked ice (or regular ice cubes).
- Garnish the cocktail with a fresh wheel of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint.
- Serve.
Is Bourbon good in tea?
Bourbon is great paired with tea. If you make a sweet tea, the sweet tea will help balance out the bourbon nicely in the cocktail.
What is Arnold Palmer?
Arnold Palmer is a half-tea, half-limeade drink. The tea and lemonade are such a dynamic duo of flavors that they transform this cocktail.
The citrus balances everything out nicely.
You can use store-bought lemonade or grab some lemon juice to make a homemade version.
Where Can I Find Honey Simple Syrup?
You can order a bottle of honey simple syrup online or find it at retailers such as HomeGoods, World Market, or your grocery store.
You can also make it, using this recipe below.
Honey Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup honey (any variety, but wildflower or clover works great)
- 1/2 cup hot water
Directions:
- Add honey and hot water to a small jar or mixing bowl.
- Stir (or shake in a jar with a lid) until the honey fully dissolves into the water.
- Let it cool, then transfer to a sealed container or squeeze bottle.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Can I use sweet tea for this summer’s bourbon cocktail?
Yes, you can use sweet tea if you don’t want to use Arnold Palmer.
Or, if you prefer, leave out the sweet tea and use unsweetened tea or black tea.
The honey simple syrup will flavor the drink, so you will still have some sweetness.
What if I don’t have a cocktail shaker?
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can easily use a mason jar with a lid or any other type of container that seals tight.
Then pour in the drink ingredients, place the lid, and shake vigorously. It will work the same as a shaker.
Can I make a pitcher of this sweet tea recipe?
Yes, you can. Based on the number of people you plan to serve, double or triple the recipe and pour it into a large pitcher.
With a large pitcher, it is hard to shake it all up, so stirring well will work.
Check out these cocktails- perfect for a sweet summer drink:
Best Mint Julep Recipes (including a sweet tea mint julep)
Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5-6 ice cubes (you will need additional ice cubes to serve in the glass)
- 2-3 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 ounce honey simple syrup
- 1 1/2 ounces Bourbon Whiskey
- 2 dashes of citrus bitters
- 3 1/2 ounces Arnold Palmer Tea
- lemon wedges and fresh mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Drop 2-3 fresh mint leaves into the bottom of a cocktail tin, and muddle the mint leaves to release the oils.
- Add 5-6 medium ice cubes on top of the muddled mint leaves, then add 1/2 ounce of honey simple syrup, 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon whiskey, 2 dashes of citrus bitters, and 3 1/2 ounces of Arnold Palmer tea.
- Secure the lid on the cocktail shaking tin and shake vigorously for 30 thirty seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a standard rocks glass filled with cracked ice.
- Garnish the cocktail with a fresh wheel of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint.
- Serve.
This post includes affiliate links.
Created 3/2020 | Updated 7/2022
Leave a Reply