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10 Best Woodford Reserve Recipes & Mixed Drinks To Try (2023)

Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Lydia Martin

From straight bourbon whiskey to rye to double oaked, Woodford Reserve has the finest bourbons in the world—and its rich bourbon could hold countless ways to make cocktails.

So, if you’re looking for a modern cocktail twist to try on your usual classic drink, try any of these Woodford Reserve recipes to satisfy your palate.

Top 10 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Cocktail Recipes 

10. Smoked Pecan Old Fashioned

Glass of Smoked Pecan Old Fashioned Cocktail Drink

This sensational sweet and smokey cocktail is a great digestif for an after-meal drink. 

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve 
  • 1oz water
  • 1tbsp Bourbon smoked sugar
  • Dashes of Pecan bitters

Instructions: 

Combine water and smoked sugar in a stirring glass and mix. Add the bourbon and bitters, mix again, then strain it into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

Serving: 1

9. The Perfect Manhattan

The Perfect Manhattan Glass Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bottle in the background

The Perfect Manhattan can never be perfect without the Woodford Reserve bourbon and vermouth. 

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve 
  • ½oz Dry vermouth
  • ½oz Sweet vermouth
  • Dashes of Angostura bitters

Instructions: 

Mix all the ingredients into a glass filled with ice, stir, then strain into a martini glass. Top with an optional cherry, then serve.

Serving: 1

8. Vanilla Old Fashioned

Vanilla Old Fashioned Cocktail Drink Garnished with Lemon Peel

A classic cocktail with a twist of a good Woodford Reserve and vanilla flavor.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve 
  • ½oz Vanilla-brown sugar syrup 
  • Dashes of Angostura bitters

Instructions: 

Add all the ingredients to an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until chilled—strain in a rocks glass with one large ice cube.

Serving: 1

7. Holiday Espresso Manhattan

Bottle of Woodfrod Reserve Bottle and a Glass of Holiday Espresso Manhattan Coktail

Elevate your usual Manhattan with this Holiday Espresso Manhattan decadent cocktail.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve 
  • 1½oz Espresso 
  • ½oz Coffee liqueur
  • ½oz Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup

Instructions: 

Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Serving: 1

6. Kentucky Mule

Kentucky Mule Cocktail Drink

The richness of Woodford Reserve makes a statement in making a classic Kentucky Mule.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve
  • 4oz ginger ale
  • ½oz lime juice
  • Dashes of orange bitters 

Instructions: 

Put all the ingredients in a copper mug over ice, then stir. Finish it with a lime wedge as a garnish on top.

Serving: 1

5. Spiced Apple Sparkler

Spice up your ordinary apple cider mix cocktail with Woodford Reserve and prosecco.

“A Woodford Reserve holiday bottle along with the Spiced Apple cocktail mixer make the perfect holiday pairing — and a great gift item,”  

Chris Morris, Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve
  • 3oz Korbel prosecco
  • 1oz Spiced Apple cocktail mixer
  • ½oz Lemon juice 

Instructions: 

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled, then strain into a flute glass.

Serving: 1

4. Harvest Toddy

Harvest Toddy Cocktail Drink

Harvest Toddy is hot and sweet, with calming apple cider spices and Woodford Reserve Rye.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve
  • ½oz Honey-ginger simple syrup
  • 3oz Apple cider, heated

Instructions: 

Heat the apple cider until near to boil, then remove from heat. Pour the bourbon, simple syrup, and the heated apple cider into a hot mug, stir and enjoy.

Serving: 1

3. Salted Dark Chocolate Bourbon Cocoa

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bottle and Salted Dark Chocolate Bourbon Cocoa Cocktail Drink

This dessert cocktail drink is mainly made with double-oaked bourbon with an additional creamy combination of half & half [1] and dark chocolate chips.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
  • 3cups Milk
  • 1cup Half & half
  • 6oz Dark Choco chips
  • 4oz Simple syrup
  • 1tsp Vanilla extract
  • ½tsp Salt

Instructions: 

Put half & half and milk into heat and stir in dark chocolate chips. Add the syrup and salt to taste, then stir.

Remove from heat, stir the bourbon and vanilla, pour into mugs, then serve.

Serving: 4

2. Spiced Cherry Mule

Spiced Cherry Mule is an ideal drink for a cozy night. It’s a cherry twist to a Mexican Mule cocktail.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve 
  • 3oz Spiced Cherry Mule mixer
  • Dashes of Spiced Cherry bitters

Instructions: 

Pour all the ingredients into an ice-filled copper mug, stir, then serve with an optional lie wedge on top.

Serving: 1

1. The Horse’s Neck

Bartender Holding The Horse’s Neck Cocktail Drink

The Horse’s Neck is a long drink made with ginger ale and alcohol with an identifying long lemon peel. [2]

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2oz Woodford Reserve Rye
  • 3oz Ginger Ale 
  • Dashes of Angostura bitters
  • Lemon peel (for garnish)

Instructions: 

Pour all the ingredients into an ice-filled highball glass. Place the lemon peel inside the drink, serve and enjoy.

Serving: 1

FAQs 

What is good to mix with Woodford Reserve?

Lemon, lime juice, ginger ale, apple cider, milk, and coffee are good to mix with the richness and roundness of Woodford Reserve bourbon. 

How do you serve Woodford Reserve?

You can serve Woodford Reserve neat and sip it on its own, on the rocks, or in cocktails. Woodford Reserve is a versatile liquor with a full and rounded profile.

Final Verdict 

Great cocktails start with a great bourbon like Woodford Reserve.

With these Woodford Reserve recipes, classic drinks can become rich, refreshing, and palatable cocktails.

Try the different kinds of Old Fashioned, from smoky to vanilla-filled cocktails, or make a dessert cocktail like Salted Dark Chocolate Bourbon Cocoa using a double-oaked bourbon.

But whether it’s double-oaked or not, Woodford Reserve bourbon is excellent for making elevated cocktail recipes. 

References:

  1. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFR
  2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horse

Lydia Martin

Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.

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