This Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail recipe with honey simple syrup is a refreshing and seasonal take on the classic drink.
This Rhubarb Bourbon Sour is a refreshing, tart-meets-sweet cocktail made with homemade rhubarb honey syrup, fresh lemon juice, and your favorite bourbon. A seasonal twist on a classic sour, it's perfect for spring and summer sipping.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Perfect cocktail for rhubarb season
- Easy to make with seasonal ingredients
- Cocktails at home are inexpensive and delicious.
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.
I can't get enough of using seasonal fresh fruit and herbs (like mint leaves) and turning it into a quick simple syrup like my cardamom simple syrup or citrus 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. No rhubarb liqueur is needed!
Fresh rhubarb - Rhubarb brings a unique tartness that balances the sweetness of the syrup and the warmth of the bourbon. Look for firm, deep-pink stalks for the most vibrant color and flavor. If fresh rhubarb is out of season, frozen rhubarb can be used. Just thaw and drain before using.
Honey - Making a simple syrup with naturally gluten-free honey instead of cane sugar keeps this refined sugar-free and adds floral, earthy undertones that pair beautifully with rhubarb. If you prefer a different sweetener, substitute maple syrup. This will contribute a slightly deeper, richer flavor.
Lemon juice - Fresh lemon juice gives this cocktail its signature sour profile. Its acidity heightens the rhubarb's tang and brightens the overall drink. Bottled lemon juice won’t give the same crisp, clean finish, so fresh is highly recommended.
Bourbon - Choose a bourbon with vanilla or caramel notes to complement the sweet-tart rhubarb syrup. A spicier bourbon will add warmth and depth, while a smoother option will let the rhubarb flavor shine. If you don’t have bourbon, rye whiskey can be a bolder alternative.
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How to make a rhubarb bourbon sour
Step 1: Add water, honey, and chopped stalks to a medium saucepan. Heat gently over medium heat until the honey dissolves and the chopped pieces break down.
Step 2: Let this cool to steep. Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer and store in the fridge.
Step 3: Add cocktail ingredients to a shaker and go to town!
Step 4: Place ice cubes in a cocktail glass and garnish with extra stalks if desired.
Equipment
Here’s what you’ll need to make this cocktail smoothly from start to finish:
- Small Saucepan – Used to make the rhubarb honey simple syrup. A heavy-bottomed pan helps prevent burning while the mixture simmers.
- Fine Mesh Strainer – Essential for straining out the rhubarb solids from the syrup, leaving you with a smooth, pourable base.
- Cocktail Shaker – Helps properly chill and mix the cocktail ingredients. If you don’t have one, a mason jar with a lid works in a pinch.
- Jigger or Small Measuring Cup – For precise measurement of bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup to maintain flavor balance.
- Cocktail Glass – A coupe or lowball glass both work well for this drink and elevate the presentation.
Top tips for the perfect rhubarb bourbon sour
- 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 drinks 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.
FAQs
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 clean drink. Other helpful equipment to have on hand includes a silicone ice cube tray and a jigger for measuring.
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.
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.
Rhubarb syrup will last up to 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container or glass jar. For best quality, keep it tightly sealed and discard if it becomes cloudy, fizzy, or develops an off smell.
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📖 Recipe
Rhubarb Bourbon Sour Cocktail
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
Jacqueleena
Are you sure about the calories?? 785 seems awfully high. Thx
Tessa
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!
Adam
This sounds delicious!!! Going to go raid my mom's garden for some fresh rhubarb!
Tessa
Sounds like a great plan! :)
Candace Singer
How long will the sour mix keep in the refrigerator?
Tessa
Hi Candace - the simple syrup should keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Cheers!
Jennifer Farley
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
Funny how we get in these cycles! Dinner has been seriously lacking at our place. ;) Thanks, Jennifer!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
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
Hahaha, yes, we have multiple bottles of syrups as well! xo
alana
all about all the rhubarb. these rhubarb sours are calling my name!!
Tessa
Thanks, Alana! You can never have too much. :)
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats
Dream cocktail!
Tessa
Aw, thanks Joyce!!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
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
I can feel it - you are going to find some so soon! :) Happy weekend to you, my friend!
Erin Maxwell
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!