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Last Updated on December 28, 2022 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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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:
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFR
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horse
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.
