Autumn Bourbon Rickey Cocktail with Maple Syrup

You're going to love this bourbon rickey recipe with a fall twist! A simple mix of bourbon, lime juice, soda water, and maple syrup creates the perfect golden-hued cocktail. A gorgeous garnish of sliced apple and lime wheel makes it a great drink for autumn gatherings.

I love the tart, refreshing flavor of this cocktail and that it's not too sweet. This is one of those drinks you can enjoy year-round on a hot summer day or in cooler weather, which is why I like to add the apple and maple to celebrate autumn flavors. It's also really simple to make--only about 5 minutes from start to finish. Give it a try; I bet you'll love it too!

After you try this bourbon drink, you may want to check out some other drink recipes. I happen to have several! If bourbon's your jam, you'll love my black tea bourbon hot toddy. If you're looking for a gin drink, check out my Halloween gin cocktail. For a vodka option, my prickly pear Moscow mule is delicious. And for the tequila drinkers, my spicy grapefruit ranch water is so good. Now let's get to why you're here: let's make the bourbon rickey!

Ingredients

Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:

• bourbon
• fresh lime juice
• maple syrup
• club soda
• lime wheel or lime wedge for garnish
• apple slices for garnish

Instructions

Now that we've got our ingredients, let's make this cocktail!

1. First, combine the bourbon, lime juice, and maple syrup in an ice-filled rocks glass (or highball glass if you prefer).

2. Then, top with club soda and garnish as desired.

Substitutions

Here some ideas for ingredient substitutions if you need them:

• Bourbon - If you're out of bourbon or want to try something different make the gin version (aka the gin rickey) instead. Or make a vodka rickey.
• Lime juice - Use lemon juice instead of lime juice.
• Club soda - Instead of club soda, you can use sparkling mineral water like Topo Chico or seltzer water.
• Maple syrup - Try simple syrup or agave nectar instead of maple syrup.

Variations

Want to change things up? Try these recipe variations:

• Spicy - Muddle some jalapeño with the lime juice and maple syrup in a cocktail shaker and strain into the ice-filled glass before adding the bourbon.
• Cinnamon Simple Syrup - Make some simple syrup to use instead of maple syrup. Combine ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan along with a cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let stand until cooled. Remove the cinnamon stick before using.

Equipment

Here's the equipment you'll need to make this recipe:

• liquid measuring cup
• measuring spoons
• paring knife

Storage

Store the drink mixture separate from the club soda in the refrigerator for 2 days.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips

When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

• Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
• When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
• I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
• When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Food safety

Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.