Cooper's Craft Bourbon Cocktails

I was born and raised in Tennessee, so I like my bourbon . One of my favorite brands is Cooper's Craft, a refined toasted wood whiskey. I am always up for trying new cocktails especially if they have a lighter flavor profile and include fresh fruit in the ingredients! Michael Ring is a Cooper's Craft Bourbon mixologist who has created the Cran-Orange Sparkler, Bourbon Blackberry Rickey, and The Golden Grapefruit. All of these have swapped the artificial sweeteners, sugars, and syrups for fresh fruit. Cheers to guilt-free drinking! 

Cran-Orange Sparkler

Ingredients

1.5 oz     Coopers’ Craft Bourbon

.50 oz     Simple Syrup

6 ea        Fresh Cranberries

2-3 oz     Orange Flavored Sparkling Water

2 dash   Orange Bitters

1 ea        Orange Twist skewered with fresh cranberry

Directions 

In a cocktail shaker, crush the cranberries to break the skins with the back of a spoon or a muddler.  Add Coopers Craft Bourbon, simple syrup, and ice, then shake for 15 seconds to combine and chill.  Strain into a coupe or flute and top with Orange Flavored Sparkling water, 2 dashes of orange bitters, and garnish with orange cranberry twist. 

Bourbon Blackberry Rickey

Ingredients

1.5 oz     Coopers’ Craft Bourbon

.75 oz     Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

.75 oz     Simple Syrup

2-4 oz     Sparkling water                 

4 ea        Fresh blackberries

1 ea        lime wheel skewered with blackberry

Directions                                                                                                                                             

In a cocktail shaker, crush the blackberries, then add Coopers Craft Bourbon, lime juice, simple syrup, and fill with ice. Shake for 15 seconds to combine and chill.  Strain into Collins glass, then add ice and top with sparkling water.  Garnish with Lime and Blackberry skewer and serve with a straw.    

The Golden Grapefruit

Ingredients

1.5 oz      Coopers’ Craft Bourbon

.5 oz        Honey Syrup**

1 tbsp      Chopped Crystalized Ginger

3-4 oz      Grapefruit Flavored Sparkling Water

2-3 dsh    Grapefruit or orange bitters

1 ea         Mint Sprig      

Directions                                                                                                                                                           

In a cocktail shaker muddle the crystallized Ginger and Honey syrup.  Add Coopers’ Craft Bourbon and fill with ice, shake for 15 seconds until chilled.  Strain into Ice filled Collins Glass, top with Grapefruit Seltzer and two dashes of bitters. Garnish with mint sprig and serve with a straw. 

**  Honey Syrup (1/2 cup hot water +1/2 cup honey cooled to room temp)