Ordering Straight Bourbon
Tell the bartender you want a bourbon for the cheapest option. If you don’t care what type of bourbon you have, you can just tell the bartender you want “a bourbon.” The bartender will give you the cheapest option, also known as the well option. The bourbon you get may not be the best quality they have available, but it will still taste great. If the bartender asks you what kind of bourbon you want after you order, you can say, “I’ll have the well option, please.”
Ask the bartender what bourbon they have if you want a specific brand. Certain brands may age the bourbon in barrels longer or infuse different flavors, so each brand will vary in taste and price. Talk to the bartender before you order and ask them about the flavor profiles of each bourbon they offer. When they mention a kind of bourbon you like or want to try, ask for it by name so the bartender can fill the order correctly. Some common bourbon brands include Bulleit, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark. If you’re unfamiliar with the brands, you can ask the bartender, “What do you recommend?” or, “What do you have that has a sweet flavor?”
Ask for a sample or flight if you don’t know what flavors you want. If you haven’t tried bourbon before or you aren’t familiar with the brands, ask the bartender if they can offer a sample. Many times, the bartender will be able to give you a small sip of bourbon at no charge so you can see if it’s something you like. You can also ask if they have bourbon flights available, which allow you to try 3–4 different brands at a low price so you can find something that you like. Not every bar or restaurant will offer samples or flights.
Get your bourbon “neat” if you don’t want any ice in the glass. If you want to experience the full flavor of the bourbon, tell the bartender you want it “neat.” The bourbon will come in a small glass without any ice so you can try it without it being watered down or chilled. Once you get the bourbon, slowly sip rather than drinking it quickly so you can savor it. When you order your bourbon, say the name of the brand you want first followed by how you want it. For example, you would say, “Can I please have a Wild Turkey, neat?” Never say something like, “I’ll have a neat Jim Beam,” since it can make you sound like you don’t know about bourbon.
Order bourbon “on the rocks” if you want a few ice cubes. Adding ice to your order of bourbon chills the drink and slightly waters it down, which can open up and enhance some subtle flavors. Tell the bartender you want the bourbon “on the rocks” and specify how many ice cubes you want. Usually, 1-3 ice cubes are enough to chill the bourbon without watering down the flavor too much. For example, you could say, “I’ll have a Maker’s Mark on the rocks please.” Don’t say, “I’ll have an on the rocks Maker’s Mark,” because it will make you sound like a newbie. Don’t use too many ice cubes in your bourbon, or else you’ll water down all of the subtle flavors.Tip: If you want the bourbon chilled without adding ice, ask the bartender if they have any frosted glasses they can serve the liquor in.
Ask for a splash of water if you want to open up the flavors more. If you prefer your drink room temperature but you still want to increase the subtle flavors, see if the bartender can add a splash of water to the glass. The amount of water you add depends on how much you want to dilute the bourbon. If the bartender can’t add water for some reason or if you want to control the amount, ask for a separate glass of water so you can pour it into the glass yourself. For example, you can ask, “Can I have a Bulleit bourbon with a splash of water?” Sometimes, bars will have small pitchers of water available so you can pour in as much water into your bourbon as you want.
Ordering Bourbon Cocktails
Buy a bourbon and soda for a cheap and easy mixer. Bourbon has a sweet flavor, so it pairs with a variety of sodas to make a delicious and simple drink. Use the name of the bourbon brand you want, or else you’ll get the cheapest well option in your cocktail. Try getting bourbon with ginger ale, cola, or a lemon-lime soda to use as a mixer for the cocktail. If you want a specific brand of bourbon or soda, you can ask something like, “Can I have a Wild Turkey and ginger ale please?” or, “I’ll have a Wild Turkey and Coke.” Avoid using expensive brands of bourbon for your cocktail since the soda will mask the subtle flavors.
Get a bourbon Old Fashioned if you want a classic sweet drink. An Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail made from bourbon, bitters, and sugar. Be sure to specify that you want bourbon in the Old Fashioned since some bars may make it with brandy instead. If you want to add a garnish, ask for a cherry or an orange slice to add more sweetness to your drink. Slowly sip the Old Fashioned so you can enjoy the flavors. For example, you can say, “Can I please have a Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned?” or, “Can I get an Old Fashioned with Maker’s Mark please?” You can either get an Old Fashioned that is just bourbon and sugar, or you can ask the bartender to add lemon-lime soda if you want to dilute the alcohol and make it less strong.
Order a bourbon Manhattan for a strong, bittersweet cocktail. A Manhattan is a combination of bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters served in a stemmed glass, and it has complicated sweet and bitter flavors. Specify which type of bourbon you want in your Manhattan when you order it so the bartender uses the right brand. Garnish your drink with a cherry to add additional sweetness to the drink. When you order, say something like, “I’ll have a Manhattan with Jim Beam please.”Tip: Request dry vermouth if you don’t your Manhattan to taste as sweet. You can also replace the garnish with a lemon slice or zest instead.
Ask for a bourbon sour for an old-school sweet and sour drink. Sour mix is usually a grapefruit soda that adds a slightly bitter and citrusy taste to your cocktail. Tell the bartender what brand of bourbon you want in your sour cocktail, and let them know if you want a single or double shot. Enjoy the drink with a lemon, lime, or orange slice garnish to enhance the sour flavors of the drink. When you order, ask something like, “Can I please get a Bulleit sour?” If you want to enhance the sweet flavors of the bourbon, you can also ask for a cherry garnish.
Try a Mint Julep for a strong, minty bourbon drink. The Mint Julep is the classic drink of the Kentucky Derby and consists of straight bourbon with simple syrup and fresh mint leaves. Specify a high-quality bourbon you want in the drink, and ask the bartender to muddle the mint leaves, meaning they’ll mash the leaves in the glass so the flavors release more. The Mint Julep will be served with crushed ice and more fresh mint leaves as a garnish. For example, you may say something like, “I would like a Mint Julep with Jim Beam please.” Bourbon is the only liquid in a Mint Julep, so they can be very strong. Ask for a splash of bitters to add a little spice to the drink.
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