Each Daviess County Bourbon has unique characteristics. So, pairing a specific variant with a craft cocktail could help you kick your concoctions up a notch. Depending on which variant you choose, cocktails can take on slightly different characteristics. Last month, we discussed this difference by explaining what finishing barrels are and how they affect Daviess County Bourbon.
Of course, no matter which Daviess County Bourbon Whiskey you choose, we’re sure it will be a great cocktail, but if you want to know which cocktails work best with which variant, we’ve picked out some recipes below:
Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (KSBW)
Daviess County KSBW features notes of oak, caramel, and graham crackers. Its finish is long, warm, sweet, and has a touch of spice. It’s a classic straight bourbon, so you can probably guess that it will go exceptionally well with classic cocktails.
Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon
For the Cabernet Sauvignon finish, you’ll taste many of the notes above, but you can also add fruit and oak from the barrel to the palate. Consider citrus-forward cocktails to use with this Daviess County blend.
Daviess County French Oak Barrel Finished Bourbon
Because it’s a finished bourbon, you’ll get that excellent oak flavor, and the French Oak adds some hints of chocolate as well. Dessert cocktails, hot chocolate, and cocktails with deep flavors are perfect pairings with this one.
Cocktails by Season
FALL
The Classic Old Fashioned (get recipe by clicking the name) – the top cocktail in the world is a great place to start. This cocktail is warming and provides some great complementary flavors to the Daviess County bourbon with the addition of a cherry and orange citrus.
Suggested DC variant: Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (KSBW) or Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour – Caramel, graham crackers, and cinnamon are synonymous with fall. So, this cinnamon maple whiskey sour makes a perfect autumn drink.
Suggested DC variant: KSBW or Daviess County French Oak Finish (the slight hint of chocolate on the palate takes the complexity of this cocktail way up).
The Recipe:
Add 1 ½ ounce of Daviess County KSBW or French Oak, 1 ounce of fresh lemon juice, 2-4 teaspoons (to taste) of maple syrup, and a dash of cinnamon along with some ice to a shaker. Secure the top of the shaker and shake to combine for about 30 seconds. Serve over fresh ice in a whiskey glass and enjoy!
WINTER
Hot Toddy (get recipe by clicking the name) – Whether it’s the winter blues or a winter wonderland, a hot toddy is a great winter drink. The spiciness from all three Daviess County bourbons adds a great touch to the warm water and honey.
Suggested DC variant: KSBW, French Oak, or Cabernet Sauvignon
Spiked Eggnog – This is another classic drink that pairs very well with Daviess County Bourbons and is perfect around the holidays. For this recipe, grab your favorite eggnog and choose your Daviess County Bourbon based on which garnish you decide to go with.
Suggested DC variant: For KSBW, we suggest a simple garnish of cinnamon or nutmeg on top. A toasted orange peel or a few dashes of almond extract or liqueur work well for the Cabernet Sauvignon finish. And for the French Oak, try adding some graham cracker shavings or vanilla (fresh, extract, or a vanilla liqueur all work) to kick it up a notch.
SPRING
Ginger Mule or Mint Julep (get recipe by clicking the name) – Both of these drinks are refreshingly crisp and make perfect spring bourbon whiskey cocktails.
Suggested DC variant: For the Ginger Mule and the Mint Julep, try them first with the classic KSBW. The Daviess County French Oak Finish complements the Mint Julep very well, while the citrus notes in Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish are perfect for the Ginger Mule.
Spring-Inspired Whiskey Collins – The whiskey Tom Collins features 2 ounces of bourbon, ¾ ounce of lemon juice, ½ ounce of simple syrup, a few dashes of bitters, and topped with 1 ⅓ ounce of soda water. Shake all the ingredients together, then strain over ice and top with the soda water. What makes this spring-inspired is the addition of some muddled spring fruits.
Suggested DC variant: With Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey or the Cabernet Sauvignon Finish, add in some muddled strawberries or berries before you strain the cocktail to give it some nice color and flavors. For the French Oak, try a savory or subtle fruit or vegetable. Cucumber slices or fresh herbs brighten up this drink for spring.
SUMMER
Whiskey Sidecar (get recipe by clicking the name) – Classically made with Cognac, you can find the whiskey version under our Cocktails page.
Suggested DC variant: This works best with the Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish, but the Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a fine alternative.
Whiskey Lemonade or Tea – Cocktails by the pitcher have become very popular for home gatherings. The Lux Row Distillers’ blog recently featured an article on How to Make Bourbon Cocktails by the Pitcher that featured recipes for old-fashioneds, Manhattans, and even whiskey margaritas. For Daviess County Bourbons, a pitcher of whiskey lemonade or tea can keep any group happy and hydrated all day long.
Suggested DC variant: For lemonade or tea, use Daviess County KSBW at a ratio of 2:1 (lemonade or tea to bourbon) for a balance of flavors. Of course, if you want to add more bourbon, no judgment here. With the Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish, adjust the ratio with lemonade slightly. The citrus will stand out more, so if you add more whiskey, you’ll raise the complexity, while adding more lemonade will make the whiskey a bit more subtle. We’re positive you’ll have no shortage of volunteers to taste test for you. For the tea, use the same concept when combining with the Daviess County French Oak Finish.
Food Pairings
Besides cocktails, there are food pairings that will complement your chosen Daviess County Bourbon of choice as well. Many of these foods work with all three, but here are some more specific food pairings highlighting each bourbon.
Daviess County KSBW – Cinnamon, smores, sweet potatoes, chocolate, maple syrup, nuts, grilled foods, stone fruits, dark meats, and many cheeses.
Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish – Citrus fruits, cucumbers, salads, cherries and berries, and beef.
Daviess County French Oak – Everything mentioned for the KSBW works but, you can add deeper, darker flavors. Dark chocolate, dark cherries, plums, curries, grilled squash and pineapple, and peanut butter.
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