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This Bourbon Lemon Rosemary Cocktail is a modern twist on a classic bourbon sour recipe. With herb-infused simple syrup and a bright citrus flavor, it’s perfect for happy hour.

A rosemary cocktail filled with crushed ice, a rosemary sprig and a dried lemon wheel, on a wooden tray.

A Bourbon Lemon Cocktail perfect for happy hour

A well-made bourbon sour (or bourbon smash drink) is a refreshing joy to drink. Made with bourbon and a generous amount of simple syrup and lemon juice, it’s sweet while still being well, sour.

But what if you could elevate the experience even more? This Bourbon Rosemary Cocktail only requires adding a few sprigs of rosemary to the pot while you’re making the simple syrup.

This rosemary-infused simple syrup is also the backbone of my cranberry rosemary cocktail, grapefruit vodka cocktail and rosemary gin cocktail.

Today, we’re using it for a sophisticated yet approachable twist on a classic bourbon sour.

Why you will love this Lemon Bourbon Rosemary Drink

  • A great way to use up extra rosemary you have on hand.
  • A way to elevate even a not-so-luxe bottle of bourbon.
  • Super easy measurements and no special bartending skills required.
Ingredients needed for a bourbon sour recipe, including whiskey in a fancy glass bottle, rosemary simple syrup and squeezed lemon juice.

Bourbon Sour Recipe Ingredients

  • rosemary simple syrup – this bourbon sour recipe truly starts with my recipe for homemade Rosemary Infused Simple Syrup. That post gives you all the details you need!
  • bourbon – you’ll need 8 ounces of bourbon for 4 (yes, pretty strong!) cocktails.
  • lemon juice – the fresh stuff, squeezed from fresh lemons. I don’t recommend the juice from the plastic lemon for this rosemary cocktail.
  • rosemary sprigs and/or lemon slices – optional garnishes for each glass.
A hand pouring a light colored syrup into a tall glass filled with light orange juice.

Best Bourbon for this Rosemary Cocktail

There’s really no need to break out the super high end, sipping bourbon for this bourbon lemon cocktail, but it should be a good middle of the road bourbon.

I usually use Bulleit. Some other great choices for this rosemary drink are Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace and Four Roses. 

Bourbon lemon cocktails garnished with rosemary and dried citrus on a wooden tray with ice cubes all around the scene.

How to make a Bourbon Sour with Lemon and Rosemary

  1. Start by making and cooling the rosemary simple syrup if you haven’t already.
  2. Put the simple syrup, bourbon and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker and fill it up with ice. Cover it up and shake shake shake!
  3. Fill 4 glasses with ice and strain the mixture from the shaker into the glasses.
  4. Garnish the cocktail and serve.
A light orange hued drink in an old fashioned glass, garnished an herb sprig and a dried citrus slice.

Home Chef Tips for mixing a Rosemary Cocktail

  • Adjust the sweetness of this lemon bourbon cocktail to your personal preference by increasing or decreasing the amount of simple syrup used.
  • Dried lemon slices are a unique garnish for this rosemary bourbon cocktail that will truly make you feel like you’re at a fancy bar. Make your own dried lemon slices, or buy a container.
Rosemary drinks garnished with rosemary sprigs and dried citrus on a wooden tray with ice cubes all around the scene.

How to serve this Bourbon Lemon Cocktail

Some of my favorite savory snacks to serve with bourbon lemon cocktails are chicken meatballs and spicy chips.

If you’re in the mood for charcuterie or a big party platter to serve with this rosemary drink, try one of my charcuterie board ideas.

Closeup on a whiskey drink over crushed ice, garnished with an herb sprig and dried citrus slice.

Bourbon Lemon Rosemary Drink FAQs

How do you cut the bitterness out of rosemary?

To minimize the bitterness of rosemary, trim any excess woody stem parts off of each sprig, if you can.

Why do people put rosemary in drinks?

Rosemary’s aromatic qualities and earthy undertones add complexity and elegance to beverages like this rosemary bourbon sour recipe.

What’s the difference between a whiskey sour and an old fashioned?

While both cocktails feature whiskey, a Whiskey Sour is a sweeter drink featuring citrus juice (like lemon) and a sweetener (like simple syrup), while an Old Fashioned is a more spirit-forward drink made with whiskey, sugar and bitters.

Lemon bourbon cocktails garnished with rosemary and dried citrus on a wooden tray with ice cubes all around the scene.

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A rosemary cocktail filled with crushed ice, a rosemary sprig and a dried lemon wheel, on a wooden tray.

Lemon Bourbon Rosemary Cocktail

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This Bourbon Lemon Rosemary Cocktail is a modern twist on a classic bourbon sour recipe. With herb-infused simple syrup and a bright citrus flavor, it's perfect for happy hour.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces (1 cup) bourbon
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) fresh lemon juice
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Rosemary Simple Syrup
  • Ice cubes, for shaking and serving
  • 4 small rosemary sprigs, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Add bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup to large cocktail shaker. Top shaker with ice; cover and shake well.
  2. Fill 4 double old fashioned glasses with ice; strain bourbon mixture into glasses. Serve cocktails garnished with rosemary sprigs, if desired.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 0g

This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Cuisine: American / Category: Cocktails