Best Substitutes for Bourbon

Out of Bourbon? Here are the best alternatives that work in cocktail recipes.

Bourbon — spirit used in cocktails

Original Ingredient

Bourbon

Spirit 40.00% ABV Rich and oaky with caramel, vanilla, and warm baking spices. Corn sweetness on the palate with a long, slightly charred finish and notes of toffee and dried cherry.

Recommended Substitutes

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Rye Whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Blended Whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Tennessee whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Whiskey

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

General Substitution Tips

  • Match the alcohol level: a 40% spirit needs a similarly strong replacement or adjust volume.
  • For liqueurs, dilute spirits + simple syrup can replicate sweetness and proof.
  • Citrus substitutions: lemon and lime are mostly interchangeable at a 1:1 ratio.
  • For bitters, Angostura is the most neutral substitute for most other aromatic bitters.