Bourbon Beer Cocktail Recipe: Summer Bourbon Refresher

The Summer Bourbon Refresher is a bourbon beer cocktail made with wheat ale, Grand Marnier, and homemade tarragon simple syrup. Bourbon brings warmth and oak while the wheat beer keeps the drink light, crisp, and refreshing for summer.

I had the pleasure of visiting New Orleans to attend Tales of the Cocktail. It was an amazing week filled with cocktail events including tasting rooms, pool parties, seminars, private parties and product release events. In addition, the New Orleans cocktail culture and hospitality was a magical experience.

One of my trip highlights was meeting George White, a bartender at Hoshun Restaurant in the Garden District. He was so awesome to let me try a beer cocktail that he had been working on. He also alerted me to The Barman’s Fund charity that he participates in with other bartenders from around New Orleans. I promptly asked him if I could share a modified version of his recipe with you! He was gracious enough to allow me to remake his prized beer cocktail.

This cocktail is created with a beer out of Poulsbo, Washington, called Sommerweizen from Sound Brewery. It is a clear wheat ale and is 5.0% alcohol by volume and has an IBU of 20. The other ingredients include Grand Marnier, bourbon and tarragon simple syrup which makes this the ultimate summer party beer cocktail. Let’s make this awesome cocktail and toast the amazing city of New Orleans! Cheers!

More Bourbon + Bubbles
Beer isn’t the only way to give bourbon a refreshing lift. Bourbon and ginger beer drinks pair whiskey’s warmth and spice with bold ginger flavor and plenty of fizz. Celebrator’s guide includes easy recipes, serving ideas, and flavor combinations to try.

Recipe: Summer Bourbon Refresher

Ingredients

• 1 ounce of bourbon
• ½ ounce Grand Marnier
• ½ tarragon simple syrup (*recipe below)
• 1 cup of ice
• 4-6 ounces of Sommerweizen from Sound Brewery

Instructions

In a metal shaker add bourbon, Grand Marnier, tarragon simple syrup and 1 cup of ice. Shake mixture for 20 seconds. Pour mixture into serving glass. Top off with Sound Brewery Sommerweizen. Garnish with tarragon.

Yield: 1 serving

Tarragon Syrup

Syrup Ingredients

• ½ cup turbinado sugar
• ½ cup boiling water
• 6 large fresh tarragon leaves

Preparation

Combine the sugar and boiling water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the tarragon leaves and steep in hot simple syrup for 20 minutes. Strain into a clean jar, cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks.