Refreshing Bourbon Cocktails

Who doesn’t love a tasty and refreshing cocktail? I know I do! Especially while trying to unwind after a long day or a long and busy week.
Now, I have to say that I am new to the Bourbon craze. Frankly, I don’t know much about Bourbon. But, the few cocktails I have tasted here and there, from my husband ordering them at a bar or restaurant, awoke my senses. It is definitely an acquired taste; the more I drink it, the more I like it. Don’t judge me! 😉
So I toyed around with some simple syrup varieties and decided to try a bourbon cocktail using a jalapeno batch and a fig batch I recently made. They were both exceptionally tasty.
You can adjust the simple syrup amount to your liking. I do enjoy my cocktails on the sweeter side 🙂
Simple syrup is made of equal parts sugar and water. Boil the two gently until the sugar melts then infuse with herbs, etc. For the jalapeno and fig simple syrup, I boiled the jalapeno and the figs with the water and sugar.
Simple syrup can also be made by simply combining the sugar and water and letting the sugar disolve on its own at room temperature. This method is great if you have fresh herbs to infuse with it; however, it takes a lot longer (a day or two).

Give these cocktails a try and let me know which one you enjoyed the best.
I used Bulleit for these recipes.

Jalapeno Bourbon Julep

• Servings: 1
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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Bourbon
• 1/4 cup Jalapeño simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Soda to top off
• Fresh mint leaves
• Tall glass with ice

Preparation

1. Place the mint leaves in a glass and using a spoon smush them around a bit to release the oils. Fill the same glass with ice.
2. Measure out the bourbon, simple syrup, and lime juice. Add to the glass.
3. Mix well to combine.
4. Top off with soda and garnish with additional mint leaves, a jalapeno slice and lime (optional).

Enjoy!

Recipe written and tested by Hannah Hiller of Detroitisforfoodies.com

Bourbon Fig Cocktail

• Servings: 1
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Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Bourbon
• 1/4 cup fig simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Soda to top off
• Lemon rind
• Tall glass of ice

Preparation

1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Measure out the Bourbon, simple syrup and lemon juice. Pour over the ice. Mix well.
3. Top with soda water and garnish with lemon rind (optional).

Enjoy!

Recipe written and tested by Hannah Hiller of Detroitisforfoodies.com