Classic Southern Cocktails: How to Make a Sazerac, Old Fashioned, Mint Julep and More
Quintessential Southern cocktails and how to make them at home
Story by Lance Hanlin
In the South, a good drink is never rushed. It’s poured as the light fades, passed across a porch rail or set down beside a plate no one is quite finished with yet. Trends come and go, but these are the cocktails that stay. They show up at Derby parties, after long beach days and during quiet evenings when the only plan is to sit a while longer. Simple by design and built on quality ingredients, they rely on balance, tradition and a little bit of hospitality in every glass.
Old Fashioned
A Southern classic, done rightThere is nothing flashy about an Old Fashioned, and that is exactly the point. Built slowly over ice with a careful hand, it lets the bourbon do the talking. Here that means High Wire Distilling Co.’s Jimmy Red Bourbon from Charleston, made from heirloom Jimmy Red corn that brings a richer, slightly nutty depth to the glass.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Jimmy Red Bourbon
- 1/4 oz simple syrup or 1 sugar cube
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Large ice cube
- Orange peel
Instructions
- Add simple syrup and bitters to a rocks glass. Stir briefly. Add bourbon and a large ice cube, then stir for 20-30 seconds. Express an orange peel over the glass, run it along the rim and drop it in.
Notes
Pro Tip: Skip the extras. With a high-end bourbon like Jimmy Red, simplicity is the point.
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Mint Julep
The official sip of Derby DayFrosty, fragrant and unapologetically simple, the Mint Julep is ritual in a glass. Synonymous with Derby Day, it is less about innovation and more about getting it just right. Keep it local by pouring Burnt Church Distillery Anita’s Choice Bourbon from Bluffton, named for Lowcountry native, photographer and suffragist Anita Pollitzer. It is a meaningful nod to place in a drink that already knows how to tell a story.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Anita’s Choice Bourbon
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves plus a sprig for garnish
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Gently muddle the mint with simple syrup, just enough to release the oils. Fill halfway with crushed ice, add bourbon and stir briefly. Pack more ice on top, and stir until the glass turns frosty. Garnish and serve immediately.
Notes
Pro Tip: Clap the mint before garnishing. The aroma is half the experience.
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Sazerac
Bold, aromatic and steeped in Southern traditionDark, complex and unmistakably refined, the Sazerac is less a cocktail and more a statement. It is built with intention, layered with spice and finished with a bright twist of citrus. This version uses 13th Colony Distillery’s Cask Strength Rye Whiskey from Americus, Georgia, for a bold backbone that stands up to every element in the glass.
Ingredients
- 2 oz 13th Colony Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
- 1 sugar cube or 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- Absinthe for rinsing
- Lemon peel
Instructions
- Chill a rocks glass, rinse with absinth, and discard excess. In a mixing glass, muddle sugar and bitters, add rye and ice, then stir until chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Express lemon peel over the drink, and discard or drop in.
Notes
Pro Tip: Serve it neat. No ice. Let the whiskey lead from the first sip.
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Brandy Milk Punch
Silky, spiced and quietly indulgentSoft, smooth and just a little decadent, this is comfort in a glass. It feels right at any hour, especially the ones that linger. ASW Distillery’s Armour & Oak Apple Brandy from Atlanta brings subtle fruit and warmth that pairs beautifully with cream and spice.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Armour & Oak Apple Brandy
- 3 oz whole milk
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ice
- Fresh nutmeg
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients with ice until chilled and slightly frothy. Strain over fresh ice or serve up. Finish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Notes
Pro Tip: Whole milk gives the drink its signature richness.
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Sweet Tea Citrus Spritz
Light, herbal and unmistakably LowcountryThis starts with the South’s unofficial drink and gives it a fresh, modern lift. Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, crafted on Wadmalaw Island near Charleston, brings a smooth, familiar base, while citrus and rosemary add brightness and depth.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 2-3 oz club soda
- Ice
- Lime wheel
- Fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice. Add vodka, lime juice and simple syrup. Top with club
- soda, and stir gently. Garnish with lime and rosemary.
Notes
Pro Tip: Tap the rosemary before adding it. The aroma elevates the entire drink.
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Alabama Slammer
Bright, bold and built for a good timeOriginally a college-town favorite, and it still behaves like one. Bright, citrusy and just a little over the top, this is a drink that leans into fun. Southern Comfort, born in New Orleans, brings its smooth, fruit-forward character to the forefront.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Southern Comfort
- 1 oz sloe gin
- 1 oz amaretto
- 2 oz orange juice
- Splash of grenadine
- Ice
- Orange slice
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients except grenadine with ice. Strain over fresh ice, add a splash of grenadine and garnish.
Notes
Pro Tip: Fresh orange juice keeps it from tipping too sweet.
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Whiskey Sour
Smooth, citrusy and finished with a silky crownA proper Whiskey Sour is all about balance. Bright citrus, soft sweetness and a smooth whiskey backbone come together under a velvety foam. This version uses Bluffton Whiskey from Burnt Church Distillery, offering a rich, slightly sweet base that pairs beautifully with fresh lemon.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bluffton Whiskey
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Dried citrus wheel
Instructions
- Dry shake all ingredients without ice to build foam. Add ice and shake again until chilled. Strain over fresh ice, or serve up. Garnish with dried citrus and optional bitters.
Notes
Pro Tip: Do not skip the dry shake. That silky top is what makes the drink.
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