Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Sour

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A cozy bourbon sour built on Woodford Reserve, bright lemon juice, and warm pumpkin spice syrup.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.

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INGREDIENT LIST

2 oz bourbon
1 oz pumpkin spice syrup, see Notes from the Bar
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Orange peel, for garnish
Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Add the bourbon, lemon juice, and pumpkin spice syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake until thoroughly chilled.
Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
Garnish with an expressed orange peel and a light grating of fresh nutmeg.

Notes from the Bar

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

PUMPKIN SPICE SYRUP

Whisk together 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of kosher salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let steep for 15-20 minutes, then strain through a fine mesh sieve and refrigerate until chilled. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. This makes enough for several cocktails, double it if you're hosting.

BOURBON CHOICE

We love Woodford Reserve here, its notes of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and baking spice pair beautifully with the pumpkin spice syrup. The bright lemon juice keeps the whole drink from tipping too sweet no matter which bourbon you reach for.

SYRUP STRENGTH

We preferred 3/4 oz of pumpkin spice syrup for a fuller, warmer flavor. If you'd rather keep the bourbon more forward, start with 1/2 oz instead and adjust to taste.

LEFTOVER SYRUP

Any extra pumpkin spice syrup is delicious stirred into coffee, whisked into a latte, or drizzled over pancakes and oatmeal. It keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks, so it's worth making the full batch even if you're only mixing one round of cocktails.

EXPRESSING THE ORANGE PEEL

Hold the peel skin side down over the glass and give it a firm pinch to release the oils across the surface of the drink, then twist it into shape and rest it on the rim. This is what gives the cocktail its aroma the moment it's picked up.

Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.

A ritual we return to

Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.

Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.

It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.

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