Drinks Cocktails Whiskey & Bourbon Cocktails Bourbon Revival 1.0 (1) 1 Review Bourbon, honey, and lemon combine in this simple highball cocktail. By Jason Stevens Jason Stevens Jason Stevens is partner of Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, a buzzy all-day bar and cafe with multiple locations in Austin Texas. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 13, 2024 Tested by Jasmine Smith Tested by Jasmine Smith Jasmine Smith is a recipe developer and tester at Dotdash Meredith Corporation. In addition to her work in test kitchens, Jasmine is a freelance culinary producer for a variety of food festivals. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Food & Wine / Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Total Time: 2 mins Jump to recipe The Bourbon Revival is a dressed-up whiskey highball cocktail featuring lemon juice, creme de cassis, honey syrup, a dash of Angostura bitters, and a mint and lemon garnish. A riff on the Bourbon Renewal cocktail from Portland, Oregon's now-closed Clyde Common bar, the Bourbon Revival is a simple and refreshing highball. This drink was developed by Jason Stevens, partner at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, in Austin, Texas. 28 Classic Cocktails You Should Know How to Make A few key ingredients set this flavorful highball apart. Stevens leans on a winning combination of tart lemon juice, sweet honey syrup, and berry-forward creme de cassis to build layers of flavor and complexity in this drink. Creme de cassis is a French blackcurrant liqueur that tastes much like blackberries due to its combination of sweet and sour flavors. It's known best for its role in a Kir Royale and adds depth and richness to this cocktail. For a more mint-forward drink, muddle fresh mint leaves in the base of the highball glass before mixing in the other ingredients. Why the Bourbon Revival works The Bourbon Revival is a highball cocktail, following the template of a spirit (or combination of ingredients) topped with around twice as much club soda. The proportions are a bit specific here, as Stevens opts for overproof bourbon which is used in a smaller amount than a classic highball, but reinforced with creme de cassis liqueur. Overproof bourbon, sometimes also called "barrel strength," contains over 50% ABV (alcohol by volume). This extra-strong spirit fortifies the cocktail without adding too much volume or disrupting the ratios. For a more gentle flavor profile, swap in standard bourbon. Honey syrup is a classic sweetener for whiskey or bourbon cocktails since honey's rich, earthy flavors play off the savory sweetness in the spirit. 21 Bourbon Cocktails You Can Make Tonight Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 ounce overproof whiskey (such as Wild Turkey 101) 3/4 ounce creme de cassis 1/3 ounce honey syrup 1/2 ounce lemon juice 1 dash Angostura bitters 3 ounces club soda 1 pinch kosher salt 1 lemon slice, for garnish 1 sprig fresh mint, for garnish Directions Stir together bourbon, crème de cassis, honey syrup, lemon juice and bitters in a highball glass filled with ice. Top with club soda; stir gently to combine. Garnish with a pinch of salt, lemon wheel, and mint sprig. How to make Honey Syrup To make Honey Syrup, combine one part honey with one part hot water. Stir well to dissolve honey, let cool completely, and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Honey with a smooth, not grainy or crystallized, texture works best for this. Rate It Print