Citrus-Spiced Bourbon Refresher
A bright bourbon cocktail with fresh citrus and warming spice, perfect for a relaxed evening. This recipe, ready in about 5 minutes, brings together bourbon, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup (1:1 honey and water) for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 oz honey syrup (1:1 honey and water)
- a pinch ground cinnamon
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- enough to fill shaker ice cubes
- 1 large ice cube
- 1 strip orange peel
The shaker and jigger we’d mix this with → Best Bar Tools for 2026: Shakers, Jiggers & Strainers Worth Buying
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a cocktail shaker with enough ice cubes to chill the drink thoroughly. Pour in 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 3/4 oz honey syrup, and add a pinch of ground cinnamon.
- Step 2: Add 2 dashes of orange bitters to the shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the shaker is frosty.
- Step 3: Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over a single large ice cube to maintain chill without fast dilution.
- Step 4: Express a wide strip of orange peel over the surface to release oils, then twist it and rest it neatly on the rim for aroma and visual appeal.
