What Alcohol Goes With Dr Pepper? 7 Picks (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on November 5, 2023 by Lydia Martin
The sweet and bold flavor of Dr Pepper pairs surprisingly well with various types of alcohol, creating a unique and delightful combination that appeals to a wide range of tastes.
But not all alcoholic beverages blend seamlessly with Dr Pepper.
So, what alcohol goes with Dr Pepper?
Our tasting panels and expert reviews further refined the list, ensuring each pairing offered a delightful and balanced drinking experience.
Top 7 Liquors That Go With Dr Pepper
1. Captain Morgan Rum
Average Price: Roughly $13.49 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 35% ABV
Why We Like It:
Captain Morgan Rum and Dr Pepper make a delicious, sweet, and spicy Captain Pepper cocktail.
Captain Morgan Rum has a spiced rum, which is a good mixture with Dr Pepper.
Aside from fruity notes, Captain Morgan has notes of wood and smoke.
As we mix Captain Morgan and Dr Pepper, it gave us a full profile of sweet fruits with hints of smoke and spices. You can add Dr Pepper in coconut rum if you want a creamier take.
2. Jagermeister
Average Price: Roughly $30.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 35% ABV
Why We Like It:
Dr Pepper with Jagermeister makes a fizzy, spicy, licorice drink known as Dr. Jager. Like Dr Pepper, Jagermeister is believed to have medicinal properties.
Jagermeister is a German liqueur with a thick and strong bitter-sweet flavor—and blending it with Dr Pepper can dilute its solid and bitter taste, making it more appealing to the palate.
3. Crown Royal Whisky
Average Price: Roughly $19.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It:
Crown Royal Deluxe is an extraordinary blend of Canadian whisky [1], producing exceptional smoothness. Its creamy and smooth texture is an excellent mix with Dr Pepper’s complex flavor.
I noticed that the sweet cherry mixed with allspice compliments the Crown Royal’s vanilla and oaky notes. Dr Pepper and Crown Royal whisky mixed drink is also called the Dr Crown cocktail.
4. Jack Daniel’s
Average Price: Roughly $30.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It:
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey with Dr Pepper is famously known as the Pepper Jack cocktail.
We usually drink this cocktail in a rocks glass with crushed ice or ice cubes.
Jack Daniels has a quite smooth profile with oaky notes, vanilla, and butterscotch sweetness that could pair up well with the deep, bold, and complex flavor of Dr Pepper.
5. Absolut Vodka
Average Price: Roughly $22.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It:
Absolut Vodka and Dr Pepper create a flavorful cocktail called—the Vodka Pepper.
The versatility of the vodka can be perfectly paired with the sweet carbonated Dr Pepper.
Absolut Vodka is a Swedish vodka known as one of the most versatile spirits at an affordable price.
Mixing Dr Pepper with Absolut will help cut the liquor’s strong taste and sharpness.
6. Fireball Whisky
Average Price: Roughly $12.49 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 33% ABV
Why We Like It:
Dr Pepper with a Fireball makes a sweet and flavorful cinnamon whisky cocktail.
It is generally a sweet, spicy, and smoky drink, and some people call this drink duo a Dr Pepper Fireball cocktail.
This cocktail usually uses an equal ratio of Fireball and Dr Pepper. But you can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and turn it into a creamy, spiced cinnamon drink.
“No amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.”
– David Sedaris, Humorist/Author
This combination makes a great drink for the winter and fall season. For a stronger drink, do a 1:1 ratio in your recipe, but double the amount of Dr Pepper in your drink to make it lighter.
7. Hennessy
Average Price: Roughly $35.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It:
Hennessey is a cognac type of barrel-aged brandy that you can mix with a wide range of mixers—including Dr Pepper.
But the cocktail’s taste result might vary because of Hennessy’s cognac grading system.
“There’s a certain elegance in sipping on a Hennessy and Dr Pepper cocktail.”
-Liquor Laboratory
Hennessy has a classic brandy taste and has the sweet fruitiness of cognac with floral and citrus notes.
Mixing it with Dr Pepper will enhance its flavor and make a sophisticated cocktail.
FAQs
What whiskey goes well with Dr Pepper?
Bourbon whiskey is the most recommended whiskey that goes well with Dr Pepper. However, all types of whiskey can be paired with Dr Pepper.
Aside from the original Dr. Pepper, you can use Cherry Dr. Pepper and Dr Pepper Strawberries to craft Dr Pepper cocktails with whiskey (or apple whiskey).
Is Dr Pepper and vodka good?
Yes, Dr Pepper and vodka are good. In some instances, mixing vanilla vodka with other variants of Dr Pepper creates a lighter and softer flavor than the original Dr Pepper variant.
Since vodka has no distinct flavor (unless it is cake vodka), crafting your own Dr Pepper cocktail recipe is more manageable.
You can make your Dr Pepper cocktails at home using simple ingredients like lime juice, lemon juice, triple sec, coconut syrup, amaretto, grenadine, coke, soda, and cherry soda.
What is bourbon and Dr Pepper called?
A bourbon and Dr Pepper mixed drink is called a Jim Pepper cocktail in some recipes. These two drinks combine the famous Jim Beam bourbon whiskey and Dr Pepper.
Bourbon whiskey has natural caramel and vanilla notes that blend greatly in Dr Pepper cocktails. Also, whipped cream is an optional garnish in the Dirty Dr. Pepper recipe.
Does Dr Pepper taste good with rum?
Yes, Dr Pepper tastes good with rum; these two drinks can make a delicious cocktail. The taste of the mixed drinks might vary depending on the brand of rum you will mix. Remember to add ice and a lime wedge on the top of the drink.
Final Thoughts
Dr Pepper is a soda that goes well with different kinds of alcoholic drinks. It can be a great mixer and blends greatly in cocktails.
Dr Pepper is mainly paired with bourbon [2] and vodka, making a great sipping cocktail. But if you mix it with rum and cognac, it will make a sweet, fruitier concoction.
Every kind of alcohol will create a unique Dr Pepper cocktail flavor. You can create your custom Dr Pepper cocktail with our top alcohol picks above.
Can you share your Dr Pepper cocktail recipes? What’s your favorite?
Reference:
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https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/canadian-whisky
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https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/5-rules-that-make-it-bourbon.html
I think bourbon and Dr pepper is good with nothing else but bourbon Dr pepper it self