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    Salted Plains » Recipes » Drinks & Cocktails

    Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail

    Published: Apr 3, 2023 · Modified: May 20, 2023 by Tessa · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail recipe with honey simple syrup is a refreshing and seasonal take on the classic drink.

    Bourbon sour in a glass with ice cubes.

    This delicious cocktail has a beautiful red color and just the right tart and sour flavor! If rhubarb is new to you, you'll love the flavor profile of this pink drink.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • Step-by-step instructions
    • Tips
    • FAQs
    • More cocktail recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Perfect cocktail for rhubarb season
    • Easy cocktail with seasonal ingredients
    • Cocktails at home are inexpensive and delicious.
    • Once you make the simple syrup, it lasts in the fridge to add to all sorts of recipes!

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.

    Ingredients to make a cocktail on individuals plates.

    I can't get enough of using seasonal fresh fruit and herbs (like mint leaves) and turning it into a quick simple syrup.

    For this rhubarb cocktail, I made the simple syrup with honey (like in my rosemary syrup), which goes wonderfully with the tart earthiness of the spring veggie.

    Fresh rhubarb - Once cooked, the stalks have a delicious tart flavor.

    Honey - Making a simple syrup with honey instead of cane sugar compliments the flavors of the cooked stalks.

    Lemon juice - This is what gives this drink its sour taste. Fresh lemon juice is best. It plays well with the tart veggie and sweet honey.

    Bourbon - Use your favorite bourbon!

    Step-by-step instructions

    Before you start: Get out all of the ingredients.

    Honey syrup in a saucepan.
    Cooked syrup in a saucepan.

    Step 1: Add water, honey, and chopped stalks to a medium saucepan. Heat gently until the honey dissolves and the chopped pieces start to break down.

    Step 2: Let this cool to steep. Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer and store in the fridge.

    Bourbon sour ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
    A bourbon sour cocktail in a glass with ice.

    Step 3: Add cocktail ingredients to a shaker and go to town!

    Step 4: Place ice cubes in a cocktail glass and garnish with some extra stalks if desired.

    Tips

    • Mash the syrup mixture just enough so the flavors of the "rhubarb juice" will come out. We aren't pureeing it or using the pulp, so don't worry about smashing too hard. This will give our syrup and drink that gorgeous color.
    • Use extra crisp stalks of raw rhubarb or make a ribbon as a garnish. You can also add a lemon wheel.
    • Store the extra simple syrup in an airtight, sealable container in the refrigerator.
    Two bourbon sours in cocktail glasses.

    FAQs

    Do I need any special equipment?

    No special equipment is necessary, but I highly recommend picking up a cocktail shaker for your home bar. They are inexpensive and help to chill the drink with ice as well as strain any ingredients for a really clean drink. Other helpful equipment to have on hand includes a silicone ice cube tray and a jigger for measuring.

    Can I use frozen rhubarb?

    Definitely! Especially if you have frozen your own from the garden, go right ahead and drop it right into the saucepan. You don't have to thaw first, it will just take slightly longer to heat up and reduce.

    Can I buy rhubarb at the grocery store?

    Yes! When it is in season, you can find rhubarb in most grocery stores. Your local farmers market is another great place to find it. When it is not in season, buying frozen is an easy way to have it year-round.

    More cocktail recipes

    • old fashioned cocktail with thyme garnish
      Old Fashioned Bourbon Thyme Cocktail
    • A refreshing cocktail made with berry infused vodka, ginger simple syrup, and lemon juice.
      Berry Ginger Vodka Cocktail
    • Mint Gimlet
      Gin Gimlet Cocktail with Mint
    • Frozen Honeydew Daiquiris (gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free) | saltedplains.com
      Frozen Honeydew Daiquiris

    Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!

    📖 Recipe

    Bourbon sours in cocktail glasses with ice cubes.

    Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail

    This Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail recipe with honey simple syrup is a refreshing and seasonal take on the classic drink.
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 drink
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Tessa

    Ingredients

    Rhubarb Simple Syrup

    • ½ cup honey
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 cup chopped rhubarb

    Cocktail

    • 2 ounces Bourbon
    • ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
    • 1 ounce rhubarb simple syrup
    • Piece of rhubarb for garnish (optional)

    Instructions

    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.
    • Once cool, strain into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

    For the Rhubarb Bourbon Sour:

    • Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice. Shake.
    • Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
    • Add a piece of rhubarb as a garnish if desired.

    Notes

    • If you are sensitive to gluten-grain-based bourbon, Hudson Baby Bourbon is a 100% corn-based and could be a good alternative.
    • Use extra stalks or make a rhubarb ribbon as a garnish. You can also add a lemon wheel.
    • Store the extra simple syrup in an airtight, sterilized container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Bourbon sours in cocktail glasses with ice cubes.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacqueleena

      May 20, 2023 at 8:55 am

      4 stars
      Are you sure about the calories?? 785 seems awfully high. Thx

      Reply
      • Tessa

        May 20, 2023 at 9:30 am

        Hi Jacqueleena! Thanks so much for catching that. It was calculating the rhubarb simple syrup recipe in addition to the cocktail. It has been fixed! Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Candace Singer

      July 02, 2018 at 4:23 pm

      How long will the sour mix keep in the refrigerator?

      Reply
      • Tessa

        July 04, 2018 at 9:56 am

        Hi Candace - the simple syrup should keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Cheers!

        Reply
    3. Jennifer Farley

      May 02, 2017 at 11:45 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Tessa

        May 03, 2017 at 8:26 am

        Funny how we get in these cycles! Dinner has been seriously lacking at our place. ;) Thanks, Jennifer!

        Reply
    4. Sara @ Cake Over Steak

      April 28, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Tessa

        May 03, 2017 at 8:25 am

        Hahaha, yes, we have multiple bottles of syrups as well! xo

        Reply
    5. alana

      April 27, 2017 at 1:59 pm

      all about all the rhubarb. these rhubarb sours are calling my name!!

      Reply
      • Tessa

        April 27, 2017 at 6:45 pm

        Thanks, Alana! You can never have too much. :)

        Reply
    6. Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats

      April 27, 2017 at 11:13 am

      Dream cocktail!

      Reply
      • Tessa

        April 27, 2017 at 6:41 pm

        Aw, thanks Joyce!!!

        Reply
    7. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      April 27, 2017 at 7:29 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Tessa

        April 27, 2017 at 6:41 pm

        I can feel it - you are going to find some so soon! :) Happy weekend to you, my friend!

        Reply
      • Erin Maxwell

        July 27, 2019 at 6:37 pm

        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!

        Reply

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