Best Bourbon Cocktail Recipe for a Warm Cozy Night

If you enjoy drinking bourbon whiskey, have I got a treat for you! I recently discovered the best bourbon cocktail at the world’s highest distiller. Tucked away in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge Distillery specializes in high-rye mash American-style whiskey. But there’s so much more!

Have you ever tasted a cocktail so delicious that you thought about it and talked about it for months? I had not—until I drank The Herbalist.

If you are visiting this gorgeous town, going on a distillery tour is one of the best things to do in Breck.

It’s no secret that the Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant ranked high as one of my top foodie destinations in the state of Colorado. And while I loved every bite I ate, The Herbalist bourbon cocktail is what I think of most often when reminiscing about this experience.

The charming ambiance and setting of Breckenridge Distillery in the Rocky Mountains

Award-Winning Breckenridge Bourbon

I’m not the only one crazy for this high-rye bourbon whiskey. I’m actually in pretty good company. It’s one of the most highly awarded craft bourbons in the United States, winning some of the most prestigious honors multiple times.

4x Winner—Best American Blended from the World of Whiskies Awards

Winner—Bourbon of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition

4x Winner—Colorado Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition

Winner—Brand Innovator of the Year from Icons of Whisky

Bottles of award-winning Breckenridge bourbon and other spirits

What makes Breckenridge bourbon so special?

Bryan Nolt founded Breckenridge Distillery in 2008 to make great whiskey. I’d say he did a great job of crushing that goal!

The distillery describes the flavor and characteristics of their blended bourbon whiskey like this: “Deep, honey-amber hue with pronounced aromas of butterscotch, candied orange, and apple; dry cacao and brown sugar envelop the tongue as the spirit lingers with notes of vanilla and white pepper.”

I’m not one to usually drink straight bourbon. But I wanted to compare the unique qualities of Breckenridge bourbon whiskey and see if I could taste the difference. Oh boy did I! I describe it like this: “The smoothest, tastiest bourbon I’ve ever had.”

What makes the difference? Maybe it’s the high altitude. Maybe it’s the new American oak barrels. Maybe it’s because it’s made from Rocky Mountain snowmelt? Maybe it’s their secret formula? Maybe it’s because it’s aged at least 3 years. Or maybe it’s our favorite multiple choice answer: “All of the Above.”

Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Cocktails

Liquid Chef Billie Keithley has won her own fair share of awards, like American Icons of Whiskey’s Bar Manager of the Year. What do you get when you mix award-winning whiskey with an award-winning liquid chef? Amazing cocktails!

When we arrived at the Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant, we asked our server for a recommendation. She said their Obi-Wan Old Fashioned was the best Old Fashioned she’s ever had. It was the best I ever had too, and it’s no surprise it’s also an award winner.

Of course, the bar menu has Billie’s magic spin on other classics like Mint Julep and Manhattan. But the cocktail that stole the heart of my taste buds was The Herbalist.

An Old Fashioned and The Herbalist at Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant

Best Bourbon Cocktail

What’s in The Herbalist? This sublime concoction doesn’t rely on typical bourbon mixers. It combines a few other Breckenridge spirits and some surprising additions. And although there are seven ingredients in The Herbalist, the unique flavors of the Breckenridge bourbon whiskey are still evident.

Here’s how Billie describes it: “This is a cocktail created by one of our former bar crew team. This is an in-depth balance of a cocktail with our Flagship Bourbon, Auquavit, and Sipping Bitter that includes the Sweet Vermouth that I make for BDR. What makes this cocktail so grand is the variety and uniqueness of the flavor profiles. This gives it an experience of depth.”

Here’s what I think: “The Herbalist is an alchemy of awesomeness not to be missed!”

And now, you can make The Herbalist at home (recipe below)! However, if you are in Breckenridge, Colorado, you owe it to yourself not to miss the Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant.

Ingredients needed for the best bourbon cocktail recipe

Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant

What could be better than drinking bourbon perfectly paired with fabulous fare in a relaxed mountain setting?

Do not make the mistake of thinking BDR serves typical pub grub or simple American food. Chef Robbie Reyes combines global influences with elements of traditional American cuisine to create gourmet yet approachable dishes.

Everything we ordered was incredibly yummy! Some of our highlights were Chili Buttermilk Chicken, Columbia River Salmon, Charred Broccoli, Duck Fat Reds (potatoes), and Hazelnut Pork Belly with Palisade Peaches, one of the famous Colorado foods.

Showcasing seasonal local ingredients, Reyes often elevates flavors with the fantastic spirits of Breckenridge Distillery. So, while you can enjoy a craft beer or glass of pinot noir with many of the menu items, the chef specifically created dishes to pair with the cocktail menu.

According to Chef Robbie Reyes, “I love working with Billie. We love to play off of each other’s flavor profiles, which results in the servers/bartenders always being able to pair anything from her menu to mine. The Herbalist, for example, goes very well with our current Roasted Chicken and Community of Pumpkins. The bitters and different spices interact very well with the spices that are also used in those two particular dishes.”

Delicious dinner at Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant: Pork belly, onions, and peaches

Visiting Breckenridge Distillery & Tasting Room

Even if you can’t swing dinner at BDR, you should visit the Breckenridge Distillery & Tasting Room. In 2021, Whisky Magazine called it the attraction of the year! The facility offers distillery tours and an array of tasting experiences.

When you enter the gift shop and tasting room, you’ll see a lot of bourbon and other whiskey. (All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.) The line of whiskeys include a port cask finish, a rum cask finish, a stout cask, a single barrel, and many more.

There’s a spiced whiskey infused with whole roots and spices that’s absolutely delectable. And try the double gold winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Breckenridge PX Sherry Cask Finish.

It may surprise you that this Colorado distiller produces more than whiskey. They also won a double gold at the same SF competition for their American-style gin. Breckenridge Gin also won World’s Best Gin at the World Gin Awards in 2021.

The home of the most famous bourbon from Colorado also makes Breckenridge Vodka in original, espresso, pear, and chile flavors. You’d be hard pressed to leave either the distillery or tasting room empty-handed. But your first priority should be to purchase the ingredients below!

You can order some of them online. And if you want anything from their gift shop (not alcohol) use code CHEFDENISE to receive a 15% discount! In case you’re wondering, I do NOT receive a commission on purchases.

The Breckenridge Distillery Tasting Room

Best Bourbon Cocktail Recipe

By now you know I think The Herbalist is by far the best cocktail with bourbon I’ve ever tasted. But actually, I think it’s the best cocktail I’ve ever had—period.

In fact, I was so smitten, I contacted the distillery and asked them to share what to mix with their bourbon whiskey to make this extraordinary drink. They were kind enough to provide me the recipe so I could share it with you.

Two Herbalist bourbon cocktails made at home

The Herbalist Recipe

1 oz Breckenridge Bourbon
1 oz Breckenridge Aquavit
¾ oz Sweet Vermouth
½ oz Breckenridge Bitter
½ oz vanilla bean simple syrup*
2 dashes barrel-aged whiskey bitters
1 lemon zest swath

1. In a mixing glass, add all ingredients with ice and stir. Single strain over ice.

2. Garnish with a lemon zest swath dropped into cocktail.

*Vanilla bean simple syrup: Over medium heat add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and ½ oz vanilla bean paste. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool, then bottle and refrigerate.

I’d love to hear if you’re planning on making The Herbalist or have tasted it too!