Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail

This refreshing Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail is crafted with citrus-infused tea and smoky bourbon – summer in a glass!

Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail

Nothing’s more refreshing on a hot day than a icy glass of sweet tea…except maybe when you mix that delicious sweet tea with a bit of bourbon!

Tea and Bourbon have always been a match made in heaven, and a splash of citrus flavor makes this Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail one for the books! It’s a simple cocktail that you can make ahead of time, and chill in a pitcher in the fridge for later.

To make this cocktail, you’ll first brew up a big batch of tea (or purchase a gallon of your favorite tea at the store). Then you’ll add fresh fruit slices and let them steep overnight. This fruit-infused tea will be the base of our bourbon tea cocktail.

As an added bonus, you make the fruit-infused tea separately, so you can serve that alone as a tasty drink for the kids or anyone else who doesn’t imbibe.

Ingredients

There are two ingredient lists: one for the fruit-infused tea and one for the cocktail itself (which will incorporate the fruit-infused tea)

Fruit-Infused Tea Ingredients

• 1 gallon unsweetened tea
• 2 Lemons, sliced, plus a few set aside for garnish
• 2 Limes, Sliced, plus a few set aside for garnish
• 2 Blood Oranges, sliced, plus a few slices set aside for garnish

Cocktail Ingredients

• 5 oz of the homemade fruit-infused tea
• 1 oz Bourbon or whiskey
• 1 oz Blood Orange Liqueur
• Mint Sprigs for garnish

Helpful Bartending Tools

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• Cocktail Jigger (for measuring liquor amounts)
• Boston Cocktail Shaker Set (contains shakers, jigger, strainer)
• Large Pitcher for Brewing Tea

Recipe intended for readers 21+

Instructions

This cocktail is a 2-step process, so you’ll want to plan ahead. The fruit-infused tea needs time in the fridge to chill and steep, preferably overnight if you have time.

To Make The Fruit-Infused Tea

1. Prepare a pitcher of unsweetened tea.
2. Add the fruit slices, stir, and chill overnight in the refrigerator.

To Make The Cocktail

1. Combine 5 ounces of the fruit-infused tea with the bourbon and blood orange liqueur.
2. Shake well for 5 seconds to chill, then pour into a tall cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with fruit slices and a sprig of fresh mint.

Prep Tips

• Bourbon – All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon must be made with at least 51% corn, giving it a distinct sweet and slightly caramelized flavor. This is why it pairs so well with sweet tea and is our choice for the cocktail. However, in a pinch, you could use whiskey.
• Tea – For this recipe you can brew your own tea or you can purchase a gallon at the grocery store. We used unsweetened tea because the blood orange liqueur is sweetened. However, if you like a really sweet tea, you can start with sweet tea as the base or you can mix in an ounce of simple syrup when shaking the cocktail.

More Bourbon Cocktails To Try

• Old Fashioned Cocktail
• Three Wise Men Shots
• Mint Julep
• Orange Whiskey Smash
• Manhattan Cocktail
• Spiked Arnold Palmer

Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

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