A brown-red cocktail in rocks glass with ice, two blackberries and a green herb sprig garnish

Bourbon Renewal
Cocktail Recipe

Fruity
Citrus
Spicy

Not every modern classic needs decades of history behind it to earn its place. Created by bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler in the early 2000s, the Bourbon Renewal quickly became a favourite for its vibrant balance of bourbon, fresh lemon and crème de cassis. Often seen as a contemporary take on the Whiskey Sour, its a cocktail that feels lively, polished and effortlessly modern.

Ingredients

  • Bourbon
    50ml
  • Fresh lemon juice
    25ml
  • Crème de cassis
    15ml
  • Sugar syrup
    2 parts sugar dissolved over heat into 1 part water
    10ml
  • Dashes of Angostura bitters
    2
  • Blackberries
    3
  • Ice

Number of servings

01

Equipment

  • Rocks glass
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Cocktail strainer
  • Skewer

Bartender tip: Don't be tempted to use bottled lemon juice. In this case, the fresher, the better - as the citrus from the lemon gives the cocktail a lively edge, balancing the sweetness from the crème de cassis.

A close up of a red-purple liquid in a glass with ice and bubbles
Method
STEP 01
Pour
Add the bourbon, juice, crème de cassis, syrup and bitters to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
STEP 02
Shake
Shake vigorously until the surface feels very cold
STEP 03
Strain
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
STEP 04
Garnish
Garnish with a few blackberries - either skewered or loose in the glass

The Bourbon Renewal takes the familiar feel of a Whiskey Sour and gives it a darker, fruitier edge.

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