Best Chocolate Bourbon Drinks You Need To Try
While chocolate and bourbon are not a highly common duo, this seductive pairing comes together remarkably well in a glass. On its own, bourbon is sultry and has a faint sweetness. When effectively combined, bourbon's smoky vanilla and caramel notes work well with the sweet and smooth properties of chocolate (via Rocky Mountain Barrel Company). When mixed into a cocktail, this combo (particularly dark chocolate) offers something for everyone.
Pairing bourbon and chocolate can be finicky and difficult (as per Forbes). There are so many different varieties of must-try chocolate and bourbon cocktails that'll suit both diehard fans of bourbon and chocolate as well as dabblers looking for at-home drinks. These beverages can cater to a range of sweetness preferences — you can keep it simple for a darker, richer taste or crank up the chocolate content for a truly sweet treat. And you can take your pick of hot or iced drinks.
Chocolate old fashioned
The old fashioned is one of bourbon's best performers. It's so famous that it has become as much of a template as it is a cocktail (via Eater). The recipe for this drink, which involves a little bit of sugar and some bitters, is such a classic match that it's difficult to think of any way in which it could be improved (via BBC Good Food). But that's exactly what chocolate does — it helps the bourbon really come alive.
To make a chocolate old fashioned you will need to pick up chocolate bitters on your next trip to the liquor store (via Jameson Irish Whiskey). Chocolate bitters will add chocolate essence to your drink without diluting the bourbon too much. You can take this cocktail up a notch by coating the rim of your glass in chocolate. Another option is to make a simple chocolate syrup to add directly into the cocktail for richer chocolate notes.
This is a cocktail that is perfect for sipping on after dinner in chilly fall months. If you're a fan of the old fashioned and enjoy chocolate but don't have much of a sweet tooth, then this is the perfect cocktail for you.
Bourbon hot chocolate
Hot chocolate was consumed by the Mayans as early as 500 B.C. (via The Spruce Eats). It is pretty straightforward to make, and the bourbon hot chocolate is not much different. All this recipe needs is cocoa powder, granulated sugar, salt, milk, vanilla, and of course, bourbon (via Sugar Dish Me). You can even top with marshmallows if you're feeling wild.
While some drinks require precise measurements of ingredients, bourbon hot chocolate does not. You can increase the bourbon in this drink as per your mood. If you know that you'll be spending the evening at home and are looking for something warm and cozy to sip on, you can simply add more bourbon to your cocktail without altering the integrity of the drink. Or, if you're looking for a casual, warm brunch cocktail before heading out for a day of shopping, just add 1 or 1.5 ounces of bourbon.
This is the perfect drink for when it's snowing outside. It's the ultimate winter cocktail. And, if you're wary of bourbon and chocolate and curious about how the two flavors come together, it's a great place to start. This drink could be your gateway into this magical flavor — all you have to do is give it a chance!
Chocolate mint julep
The mint julep is known for its signature silver cup and oozes Southern charm (via Lux Row Distillers). This cocktail combines mint, simple syrup, bourbon, and crushed ice and dates back to the late 1700s. It became the Kentucky Derby's official drink in 1938. It's a classic drink, and the addition of chocolate doesn't taint its flavor one bit. If you like mint chocolate chip ice cream, you'll love this mint-chocolatey concoction.
Since chocolate tends to solidify and might not properly blend into a drink that's served with ice, this cocktail requires a mint chocolate simple syrup (via Feast + West). The syrup combines chocolate, water, sugar, and some mint leaves, which is simple enough. But the result is an easy-to-use syrup that works in tons of other cocktails. A chocolate mint julep is a nice reminder that even if the original version is tasty, one tiny tweak can transform it into something uniquely delicious.
Bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate milkshake
A bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate milkshake is the drink dreams are made of. If you're a fan of spiked milkshakes, this is your stuff. But instead of being overwhelmed with wacky flavors and add-ins, this bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate milkshake draws on the complementary classic tastes of vanilla and chocolate.
This is a great drink for a few reasons, the most important of which is that it's easy to make. Maybe you've never made a milkshake at home. That's no problem at all because now is a great time to learn. All it entails is mixing bourbon, ice cream, milk, and some chocolate syrup (as per Liquor.com). This is also a great drink for mixed crowds who aren't massive bourbon fans. Chilling bourbon can actually diminish its strong flavor, giving this milkshake a smoothness that will appeal to many (via Enjoy The Bourbon).
The fact that this cocktail draws on nostalgia is just great. There's something wholesome about vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup. The milkshake is rich and creamy due to the ice cream and milk, and the chocolate syrup adds just a dash of flavor that's subtle but necessary. Childhood milkshakes have nothing on this spiked shake.
Brown butter old fashioned
This cocktail looks remarkably similar to a chocolate old fashioned, but there are a few key differences. It's got bourbon, of course, but it uses chocolate liqueur instead of bitters and syrup instead of sugar. There's one more ingredient that transforms this from a timeless drink to something unique — butter-washed bourbon.
The method, which is used to add various kinds of fat (or in this case, butter) into alcohol, actually originates from techniques used in the perfume world. Today, this process is used by bartenders to infuse spirits (via Gastronomer Lifestyle). To make this drink you'll need butter-washed bourbon, brown sugar syrup, Angostura bitters, and maraschino cherries (as per Liquor.com).
This is an exciting drink to whip out for your foodie friends to show them that you can, in fact, mix butter and a cocktail. The butter keeps things rich, the chocolate keeps them sweet, and the bourbon brings it all down a notch. We'd like to think of this as a drink to sip on anytime the temperature dips below freezing, but why limit yourself? The brown butter old fashioned is a cocktail you'll want to drink all year long.
Bacon, bourbon, and hazelnut hot chocolate
If you thought that hot chocolate couldn't get better, guess again. A combination of bacon, bourbon, and hazelnut elevates the hot chocolate from reasonable to lavish (via Serious Eats). This is a highly creative hot chocolate recipe, and the result is incredibly rewarding. Bacon and bourbon both bring smoky hints, while the hazelnut has toasty qualities that will make you feel as though you're sitting in front of a cozy fire. This is a pairing that's so famous it has its own book (via The Bourbon Review).
If you're into the idea of bourbon and bacon, you can incorporate the meat into any chocolate-based drink. The salty bacon and sweet chocolate are bound to complement each other nicely. You can also take some liberties and make a bacon-infused simple syrup or do a bacon-washed bourbon with your bacon fat. The most important takeaway is that bacon and bourbon are a stunning match that'll leave you wondering why you didn't try it sooner.
Chocolate bourbon cocktail
The chocolate bourbon cocktail is just as simple as its name suggests but don't be mistaken. In this case, straightforward definitely shouldn't be confused with boring — this drink is anything but. For this cocktail, you'll need equal parts bourbon and clear chocolate liqueur (as per A Night Owl Blog). If you're new to chocolate liqueurs, Giffard Crème de Cacao, which is a Difford's Guide favorite, is a great option.
Then, all you have to do is add alcohol and ice to a shaker, shake, and pour to be transported to a chocolate and bourbon wonderland. This drink is best served in a martini glass. This is a great cocktail to make when you want to exert as little energy as possible for the most exciting outcome. Bourbon and chocolate are a star pairing and this cocktail, which relies so heavily on each flavor, shows exactly why.
Feel free to take some liberties with this cocktail. Since it contains just two ingredients, it's a blank canvas for you to express some creativity and satisfy your cravings. If you want something richer, you could whip up some salted caramel syrup to add to this cocktail. If you want this drink to have warmer notes, you can add some baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Bourbon ball
A bourbon ball is a combination of bourbon, crème de cacao liqueur, and hazelnut liqueur (The Spruce Eats). Your brain might register "chocolate" and instantly file this drink under sweet and creamy. And you'll probably still think it's sweet when you take your first sip of this cocktail. But, as you keep sipping, you'll realize that this cocktail is smooth rather than overtly rich and sweet, with hints of cocoa peeking out from behind the bourbon.
The bourbon ball is a dry dessert drink, unlike decadent cocktails such as the White Russian. The bourbon ball is ideal for all the sophisticated cocktail-lover or simply those looking to get out of their old fashioned rut. Although we love how subtle this drink is, who says you can't up the extravagance level a notch by adding whipped cream and chocolate shavings? Not us. A bourbon ball is your invitation to live out your wildest dreams in cocktail form.
Chocolate Manhattan
A Manhattan is a classic cocktail that doesn't need a revamp. It's ideal as it is, with its lovely balance of whisky, sweet vermouth, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters (via Liquor.com). But what happens when you add a bit of chocolate? It turns from a classic drink into an exciting one, namely the chocolate Manhattan. This cocktail is reverent towards its namesake while providing a refreshingly unique flavor profile. The recipe keeps the standard bourbon and sweet vermouth but swaps out the bitters for chocolate bitters and adds honey, cocoa powder, and red chile (via Food Network).
The result is a drink that isn't bourbon heavy at all. The bourbon is certainly present but not at all in an overwhelming way. The chocolate bitters add subtle chocolate notes, which you can increase by adding chocolate shavings or a chocolate rim. A chocolate Manhattan is the perfect gateway drink for those who are not convinced with the chocolate and bourbon duo.
Chocolate bourbon Russian
A Black Russian, which combines vodka and Kahlúa, is the White Russian's less creamy counterpart (via Liquor.com). And although it isn't nearly as famous as the White Russian, there's something classic about a strong, textured cocktail. This drink is dry and enigmatically delicious. Extra Kahlúa can be added for an additional dose of sweetness.
For the chocolate and bourbon take on a Black Russian, known as the chocolate bourbon Russian, a few key swaps must be made. Bourbon replaces the vodka, of course, and the cocktail incorporates chocolate stout and chocolate syrup in place of Kahlúa (via Hy-Vee). If you're new to chocolate stouts, VinePair recommends delicious options such as the Rogue Chocolate Stout or the Prairie Bomb!
The cocktail is then topped with half and half, making the drink quite delectable. This drink is a lot. And it's perfect for those moments when you want to sip on something decadent. You might opt for a chocolate bourbon Russian around the holidays because it's great for special occasions.
Chocolate coffee Boulevardier
Boulevardier fans, look no further than this chocolate Boulevardier. It has everything you love about the traditional cocktail, including bourbon and Campari (as per Cocktail Co). But in the chocolate Boulevardier, the sweetness doesn't stem from the vermouth: It's delivered by coffee Amaro. Amaro is a bittersweet herbal liqueur, and when paired with the chocolate (which we'll get to in just a bit), it helps to keep the overall drink a bit brighter and not as bourbon-forward.
This drink features chocolate Campari. The Humble Garnish has a wonderful recipe for a simple cacao nib-infused Campari. All you have to do is soak some cacao nibs in Campari overnight and strain. Campari and Amaro are both quite bitter, but the chocolate notes and bourbon keep this drink smooth and well-rounded. This is another chocolate and bourbon option for those who want a post-meal digestif that is light yet potent.
Coffee Bourbon
A Kentucky Coffee combines bourbon, coffee, and honey (as per The Spruce Eats). And, when you combine bourbon, coffee liqueur, cream, dark chocolate pieces, and cinnamon, you have the coffee bourbon cocktail (via Jamie Geller). While the coffee bourbon pays homage to the Kentucky Coffee, the addition of chocolate brings out roundness and sweetness in the drink.
Bourbon tends to be one of the sweeter whiskeys (via Invaluable.com). It brings a slight sweetness to this cocktail without being overly cloying. If you have a sweet tooth, you can opt for chocolate syrup instead of chocolate liqueur to increase the richness and sweetness. For a drink that is creamy and coffee-based, this bourbon coffee is pretty refreshing due to the fact that it's served on the rocks.
You might even want to try making your own artisanal ice to avoid the minerally, watery taste that typically accompanies ice (via Consumerist). Artisanal ice melts slowly, which allows this cocktail to taste like an amped-up cold brew instead of a sickly-sweet chocolate drink. The dynamite combination of coffee, chocolate, and bourbon will perk you right up.