Y'all can't show up empty-handed to a Southern party, BBQ, or soiree, and you sure can't serve your guests a hot drink when it's a sizzling Saturday at the end of July. Keep your cool, and your friends and family chilled out with a bourbon drink that's as cold as it is juicy: a bourbon slush. Do these bourbon slush recipes require some planning? Sure do. But the payoff is almost more soul-quenching than Memaw's sweet tea.
Cherry Bourbon Slush Recipe With Tea
Who knew that the hottest drink in the South would be something so ice cold? Well, perhaps the bourbon slush is the South's best-kept secret. Until now. This recipe makes roughly 10 servings, so plan accordingly.
Ingredients
- 4 cups brewed black tea
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
- 6 ounces tart cherry juice
- 2 cups bourbon
Instructions
- In a heatproof bowl, add black tea and sugar, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Stir in the frozen lemonade concentrate and cherry juice until totally mixed.
- Allow the mix to cool for approximately one to two hours.
- Stir in the bourbon.
- Carefully pour bourbon mix into a freezer-safe container.
- Allow to freeze until nearly firm, approximately 10-12 hours.
- One hour prior to serving, place the container on the counter to defrost at room temp.
- Serve in rocks glasses.
Kentucky Bourbon Slush Recipe
Soak up some vitamin D in the sunshine while you crunch and sip your way to a boost of vitamin C with a juicy bourbon slush recipe that's a tropically chill treat. This will make approximately 10 servings.
Ingredients
- 4 cups brewed black tea
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
- 6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
- 2 cups bourbon
- Ginger ale to top off
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a heatproof bowl, add the black tea and sugar
- Stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Add frozen lemonade and orange juice concentrates, stirring until totally mixed.
- Allow the mix to cool for approximately one to two hours.
- Stir in the bourbon.
- Carefully pour bourbon mix into a freezer-safe container.
- Allow to freeze until nearly firm, approximately 10-12 hours.
- One hour prior to serving, place the container on the counter to defrost at room temp.
- Serve in rocks glasses.
- Top off each serving with ginger ale.
- Garnish with mint sprigs.
Quick Tip
Skip the orange juice if you want this to be your coldest mint julep riff yet.
Old-Fashioned Bourbon Slush Recipe Without Tea
You know that first sip of an old-fashioned when you're sitting on the front porch, admiring the sunset while the lightning bugs make their way through the yard? This is even better. This recipe whips up roughly a dozen portions.
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2½ cups bourbon
- 12 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1½ ounces Luxardo cherry juice OR cherry simple syrup
- 2 ounces aromatic bitters
- Orange slice and Luxardo cherry for garnish
- Lemon-lime soda to top off, optional
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine water and sugar.
- Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Stir in the bourbon, frozen orange juice contrate, Luxardo cherry juice, and bitters.
- Add frozen lemonade and orange juice concentrates, stirring until totally mixed.
- Carefully pour bourbon mix into a freezer-safe container.
- Allow to freeze until nearly firm, approximately 10-12 hours.
- One hour prior to serving, place the container on the counter to defrost at room temp.
- Serve in rocks glasses.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
- Top off with as much, or as little, lemon-lime soda as you desire.
Berry Bourbon Slush
No tea is required to make this berry-delicious Southern bourbon slush. Although, feel free to swap the water for black tea if you're longing for that sweet tea flavor. And as for the strawberries, feel free to swap those for blueberries, raspberries, or some seriously pulverized fresh peach puree. This makes approximately four servings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ cup bourbon
- 4 ounces frozen pink lemonade concentrate
- ½ cup hulled strawberries, crushed and muddled
- Berry club soda to top off
- Strawberry and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, add water and sugar.
- Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Add bourbon, frozen pink lemonade contrate, and crushed cherries.
- Stir until fully mixed.
- Carefully pour bourbon mix into a freezer-safe container.
- Allow to freeze until nearly firm, approximately 10-12 hours.
- One hour prior to serving, place the container on the counter to defrost at room temp.
- Serve in rocks glasses.
- Top off with berry club soda.
- Garnish with a strawberry and mint sprig.
The Best Bourbon Slush for Summer
Grab your chair and head for the shade with a few of these bourbon slush recipes. Call a friend, or let them know you're headed over for an afternoon of chatter and bourbon. Who could say no to that idea? After all, these bourbon slushes are pretty as a peach.
