Best Whiskey Cocktails: 10 Beam Recipes You Can Make at Home

Written by: Tyler Himes, Senior Brand Manager – James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Key Takeaways

• Bourbon tourism keeps growing, with 2.7 million visits annually to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and 63% of U.S. drinkers now enjoying cocktails primarily at home.
• The Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting offers a taste-as-you-go experience, with pours of Jim Beam White, Knob Creek, and Basil Hayden at key production moments.
• These 10 cocktail recipes rely only on Beam portfolio bottles sold in the American Outpost gift shop and follow bartender-standard ratios and techniques.
• Core home-bar staples include Jim Beam White, Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, and Booker’s, plus a short list of tools and classic modifiers.
• The Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting delivers a grain-to-glass experience at The Home of the World’s #1 Bourbon: Jim Beam, and you can reserve your visit in advance.

Build Your Beam Home Bar

Start your home bar with a focused Beam lineup so you can make every recipe in this guide.

Stock these Beam portfolio bottles first, all available in the American Outpost:

• Jim Beam White, the approachable, versatile workhorse for highballs and sours
• Jim Beam Black, extra-aged depth for spirit-forward builds
• Knob Creek, full-proof richness for Old Fashioneds and Manhattans
• Basil Hayden, lighter, high-rye character for Boulevardiers and Gold Rush cocktails
• Booker’s, uncut and unfiltered for the Paper Plane and bold sipping

Round out your setup with a few essential tools and modifiers so mixing feels easy, not fussy.

• Jigger (1 oz / 2 oz)
• Mixing glass and bar spoon
• Cocktail shaker (Boston or cobbler)
• Hawthorne strainer and fine-mesh strainer
• Large ice cubes or spheres
• Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters
• Sweet vermouth, Campari, Aperol, absinthe
• Fresh lemons, simple syrup, honey syrup, maple syrup
• Demerara syrup, orange peel, brandied cherries

Old Fashioned

Beam bottle: Knob Creek | Method: Stir

The Old Fashioned keeps things simple so Knob Creek’s full-proof character can take center stage.

Ingredient	Amount
Knob Creek Bourbon	2 oz
Demerara simple syrup	0.25 oz
Angostura bitters	2–3 dashes
Orange peel	1 wide strip (garnish)

1. Add bitters to a mixing glass filled two-thirds with large ice.
2. Add syrup and Knob Creek.
3. Stir smoothly for 20–30 seconds until the outside of the glass feels cold.
4. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
5. Express orange peel oils over the surface, then drop it in.

Beam substitution: Jim Beam Black adds deeper oak and vanilla, while Jim Beam White creates a lighter, more easygoing drink. Bourbon’s corn-driven caramel and vanilla notes amplify the sweetness of the Demerara syrup, which makes it a natural base for this classic. On the Beam Made Bourbon Tour, you taste Knob Creek at the barrel dump, and that same full-proof richness is what makes it shine here.

Technique Deep-Dive: Proper Stirring for Spirit-Forward Cocktails

Spirit-forward cocktails, including Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Boulevardiers, should be stirred, not shaken. Shaking introduces air bubbles, clouds the liquid, and over-dilutes the spirit. To stir correctly, fill a mixing glass two-thirds with large, hard ice, add spirits and modifiers, then rotate a bar spoon smoothly along the inside wall for 20–30 seconds. Strain right away. The result is cold, silky, and crystal clear, which signals a well-made whiskey cocktail.

Manhattan

Beam bottle: Jim Beam Black | Method: Stir

The Manhattan builds on the Old Fashioned template and adds sweet vermouth for a richer, more layered stirred cocktail.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam Black Bourbon	2 oz
Sweet vermouth	1 oz
Angostura bitters	2 dashes
Brandied cherry	1 (garnish)

1. Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass.
2. Stir for 25–30 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
4. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Beam substitution: Knob Creek’s higher proof stands up to the vermouth for a bolder Manhattan. The Manhattan combines whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters in a stirred, spirit-forward serve, and Jim Beam Black’s extra aging adds dried-fruit complexity that meshes smoothly with the vermouth.

Whiskey Sour

Beam bottle: Jim Beam White | Method: Dry shake, then shake

The Whiskey Sour introduces shaken technique and citrus, giving you a bright, foamy contrast to the stirred classics.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam White Bourbon	2 oz
Fresh lemon juice	1 oz
Simple syrup	1 oz
Egg white (optional)	1 (or 2 tbsp aquafaba)
Lemon wheel or cherry	Garnish

1. Combine bourbon, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white in a shaker without ice.
2. Dry shake vigorously for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and build foam.
3. Add ice and shake again for 15 seconds until the tin feels frosted.
4. Double-strain through a Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainer into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel or cherry.

Beam substitution: Basil Hayden’s lighter, high-rye profile adds gentle spice that lifts the citrus. Always use fresh lemon juice, because bottled juice tastes flat and dulls the foam. Pasteurized egg whites lower food-safety concerns while still giving you that glossy white head.

Boulevardier

Beam bottle: Basil Hayden | Method: Stir

The Boulevardier brings in bittersweet Italian liqueurs and shows how bourbon can stand in for gin in a Negroni-style drink.

Ingredient	Amount
Basil Hayden Bourbon	2 oz
Sweet vermouth	0.75 oz
Campari	0.75 oz
Orange peel	1 strip (garnish)

1. Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass.
2. Stir for 25–30 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Express orange peel over the surface and garnish.

Beam substitution: Knob Creek’s proof cuts through Campari’s bitterness for a more assertive version. The Boulevardier first appeared in Harry McElhone’s 1927 bar guide as a whiskey-based variation of the Negroni template. Basil Hayden’s high-rye mash bill gives enough structure to balance the bitter and sweet components.

Gold Rush

Beam bottle: Knob Creek | Method: Shake

The Gold Rush swaps simple syrup for honey syrup and delivers a richer sour that pairs beautifully with robust bourbon.

Ingredient	Amount
Knob Creek Bourbon	2 oz
Fresh lemon juice	0.75 oz
Honey syrup (2:1 honey to water)	0.75 oz
Lemon peel	Garnish

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Garnish with an expressed lemon peel.

Beam substitution: Jim Beam Black works well here, with vanilla and oak notes that echo the honey. Bourbon creates a rounder, sweeter drink that supports citrus and sugar without adding herbal sharpness, which fits the Gold Rush’s honey-lemon profile.

Experience these bourbons at the source with the Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting and connect each cocktail to the moment it starts in the barrel or at the still.

Paper Plane

Beam bottle: Booker’s | Method: Shake

The Paper Plane introduces a modern equal-parts recipe that balances bittersweet amaro, Aperol, and bright lemon against powerful bourbon.

Ingredient	Amount
Booker’s Bourbon	0.75 oz
Aperol	0.75 oz
Amaro Nonino	0.75 oz
Fresh lemon juice	0.75 oz

1. Combine all four ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake hard for 12–15 seconds.
3. Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
4. Serve without garnish and let the color stand out.

Beam substitution: Knob Creek works if Booker’s proof feels intense. Booker’s uncut, unfiltered character, the same expression Booker Noe created as part of the Small Batch Collection in 1992, gives the Paper Plane a backbone that holds up to the bittersweet amaro and Aperol.

Sazerac

Beam bottle: Jim Beam Black | Method: Stir

The Sazerac brings in absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters for a New Orleans classic that feels bold yet surprisingly smooth with bourbon.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam Black Bourbon	2 oz
Demerara simple syrup	0.25 oz
Peychaud’s bitters	3 dashes
Angostura bitters	1 dash
Absinthe (rinse)	Splash
Lemon peel	Garnish (expressed, discarded)

1. Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, swirl, and discard the excess.
2. In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine bourbon, syrup, and both bitters.
3. Stir for 25–30 seconds.
4. Strain into the absinthe-rinsed glass without ice.
5. Express lemon peel over the surface, then discard the peel.

Beam substitution: Knob Creek’s full proof adds intensity to the anise-forward absinthe rinse. Rye whiskey is the traditional Sazerac base, but bourbon’s caramel depth creates a rounder, more approachable version that lets Peychaud’s cherry-anise notes stand out.

Whiskey Highball

Beam bottle: Jim Beam White | Method: Build

The Whiskey Highball gives you a two-ingredient, low-effort drink that highlights bourbon’s flavor with plenty of fizz.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam White Bourbon	2 oz
Cold sparkling water or ginger ale	4–5 oz
Large ice cubes	3–4
Lemon wedge	Garnish

1. Fill a tall glass with large ice cubes.
2. Pour Jim Beam White over the ice.
3. Add cold sparkling water or ginger ale slowly to preserve carbonation.
4. Stir once gently with a bar spoon.
5. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Beam substitution: Jim Beam Black adds extra-aged complexity for a more contemplative highball. Simple highball-style drinks are best built directly in the serving glass, with carbonated ingredients added last to preserve fizz. This drink offers the easiest entry point into the Beam cocktail lineup.

Maple Old Fashioned

Beam bottle: Jim Beam Black | Method: Stir

The Maple Old Fashioned leans into fall flavors by trading Demerara syrup for real maple and adding optional nutty bitters.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam Black Bourbon	2 oz
Pure maple syrup	0.25 oz
Angostura bitters	2 dashes
Black walnut bitters (optional)	1 dash
Orange peel	Garnish

1. Combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in an ice-filled mixing glass.
2. Stir for 25–30 seconds.
3. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
4. Express orange peel over the surface and drop it in.

Beam substitution: Knob Creek’s higher proof boosts the maple’s richness for a more indulgent sip. Real maple syrup paired with black walnut bitters is a recognized Old Fashioned variation that plays into bourbon’s caramel and vanilla character, and Jim Beam Black’s time in barrel makes it a strong match.

Kentucky Mule

Beam bottle: Jim Beam White | Method: Build

The Kentucky Mule adapts the Moscow Mule formula to bourbon and delivers a spicy, refreshing drink that works for almost any crowd.

Ingredient	Amount
Jim Beam White Bourbon	2 oz
Fresh lime juice	0.5 oz
Ginger beer (cold)	4 oz
Lime wheel and fresh mint	Garnish

1. Fill a copper mug or tall glass with ice.
2. Add Jim Beam White and fresh lime juice.
3. Top with cold ginger beer and stir once gently.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of fresh mint.

Beam substitution: Basil Hayden’s lighter body lets the ginger beer’s spice stand out for an even more refreshing drink. The Moscow Mule ranks third in U.S. cocktail search interest, and the Kentucky Mule uses that same crowd-pleasing structure with bourbon, which makes it one of the most accessible whiskey cocktails for new drinkers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top 5 whiskey cocktails?

The five most enduring whiskey cocktails, based on bar performance and home popularity, are the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Boulevardier, and Whiskey Highball. Bar Leone was named the world’s best bar in 2025 after Handshake Speakeasy held the top spot in 2024. The Old Fashioned remains a benchmark for bourbon quality. The Manhattan is the classic stirred cocktail that showcases a whiskey’s depth alongside sweet vermouth. The Whiskey Sour is the most approachable shaken whiskey drink, with its citrus-sugar balance making it a reliable crowd-pleaser. The Boulevardier applies the Negroni template to bourbon, adding bittersweet complexity. The Highball is the simplest build, with two ingredients over ice, and offers one of the most refreshing ways to enjoy Jim Beam White on a warm Kentucky afternoon.

What are some fun cocktails that use whiskey?

Several whiskey cocktails invite experimentation at home. The Gold Rush swaps simple syrup for honey syrup, creating a richer, more nuanced sour that pairs well with Knob Creek’s full-proof character. The Paper Plane, equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice, is a modern equal-parts cocktail that surprises guests with its balance of bitter, sweet, and citrus. The Maple Old Fashioned adds seasonal warmth by substituting maple syrup for Demerara, which makes it a natural fit for fall entertaining. The Kentucky Mule is the bourbon answer to the Moscow Mule and one of the easiest cocktails to batch for a group. The Sazerac, with its absinthe-rinsed glass and Peychaud’s bitters, becomes a conversation piece that showcases bourbon’s caramel depth in a spirit-forward, no-ice serve.

What are simple whiskey mixers that don’t require egg white?

Many excellent whiskey cocktails skip egg white entirely. The Whiskey Highball needs only bourbon, sparkling water or ginger ale, and ice, and it highlights the spirit’s natural character. The Kentucky Mule adds fresh lime juice and ginger beer to bourbon for a spicy, refreshing drink that requires no special technique. The Gold Rush uses honey syrup and fresh lemon juice shaken with bourbon, with no egg white and no dry shake, just a standard shake and strain. The Old Fashioned and Manhattan are both stirred, spirit-forward cocktails with no citrus or dairy components. For anyone who wants the creamy texture of a Whiskey Sour without egg white, aquafaba, the liquid from a can of chickpeas, produces a similar foam layer and stays completely vegan-friendly.

Taste It at the Source

These 10 recipes cover the full range of whiskey cocktail techniques, from stirred spirit-forward builds to shaken sours, simple highballs, and modern equal-parts drinks. Every bottle used, including Jim Beam White, Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, and Booker’s, is available in the American Outpost gift shop at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky.

Making these cocktails at home connects you to the flavors. Tasting the bourbons at the exact moments that explain those flavors, such as Knob Creek at the barrel dump, Basil Hayden while you fill a barrel yourself, and Jim Beam White at Jim Beam’s original Cadillac, deepens that connection. The Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting runs 75 minutes and costs $30, and its real value comes from the grain-to-glass story that links every pour at home to eight generations of one family making bourbon here since 1795. That continuity shows up in the same signature yeast strain Jim Beam carried back and forth in his Cadillac every day, which still runs through nearly every Beam bourbon today.

Come as friends, leave as family.

Reserve your Beam Made Bourbon Tour & Tasting experience and discover the grain-to-glass story behind every cocktail in your home bar.

All tastings at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. are for guests 21 and older with valid ID. Please enjoy responsibly.

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