I thought about just designating April “Rhubarb Month,” because in all honesty, it’s about the only thing that has consistently graced the shelves of the fridge in the last few weeks.
So after covering breakfast with these cinnamon rhubarb muffins, I then switched gears and went straight to cocktail hour.
Rhubarb bourbon sour cocktails it is.
I can’t get enough of using seasonal fruit and turning it into a quick simple syrup. For this rhubarb bourbon sour, I made the simple syrup with honey, which goes wonderfully with rhubarb’s tart earthiness.
A quick simmer until the honey melts and the rhubarb starts to break down, then strain, and you’ve got a beautiful pink simple syrup.
Once your rhubarb simple syrup is ready, the cocktail comes together in no time. As bourbon lovers over here, adding this drink to our repertoire has been a refreshing change.
The tart rhubarb with the honey-sweet and the lemon-sour work together in all the right ways.
Rhubarb Bourbon Sour
Ingredients
Rhubarb Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup chopped rhubarb
Cocktail
- 2 ounces Bourbon
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce rhubarb simple syrup
- Piece of rhubarb for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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For the Rhubarb Simple Syrup: Add honey, water, and rhubarb to a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, then turn heat to low for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once honey has dissolved and rhubarb has started break down, remove from heat and allow to cool.
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Once cool, strain into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
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For the Rhubarb Bourbon Sour: Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake.
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Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
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Add a piece of rhubarb as a garnish if desired.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I’m still dying to get my hands on some rhubarb Tessa! I’ve checked three local stores and nothing. This cocktail sounds delicious. I’ll keep searching! Happy weekend!
Tessa says
I can feel it – you are going to find some so soon! :) Happy weekend to you, my friend!
Erin Maxwell says
Drive around your neighbourhood and look for someone with un-harvested rhubarb in their yard, and go knock on their door and ask for some! Then, take double the amount you need, double your recipe, and bring them back some delicious syrup made from their own garden! So many people have rhubarb that needs tending! What starts as asking for a favour, turns into a neighbourly gift!
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats says
Dream cocktail!
Tessa says
Aw, thanks Joyce!!!
alana says
all about all the rhubarb. these rhubarb sours are calling my name!!
Tessa says
Thanks, Alana! You can never have too much. :)
Sara @ Cake Over Steak says
This is 100% my kind of drink. I also love to create seasonal simple syrups with fresh fruit, and then my husband yells at me because I fill up half the fridge with jars of simple syrups … oh well. This one sounds so good! I love the use of honey in it, too.
Tessa says
Hahaha, yes, we have multiple bottles of syrups as well! xo
Jennifer Farley says
Ha, that’s me and asparagus + strawberries right now. For some reason rhubarb hasn’t made an appearance yet in my CSA basket! This looks spectacular.
Tessa says
Funny how we get in these cycles! Dinner has been seriously lacking at our place. ;) Thanks, Jennifer!
Candace Singer says
How long will the sour mix keep in the refrigerator?
Tessa says
Hi Candace – the simple syrup should keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Cheers!