21 Buffalo Trace Cocktail Recipes – Recipes & Cocktails

I’ve rounded up the top Buffalo Trace drinks that you must try–from classic favorites to modern twists!

Here are the best Buffalo Trace drink recipes using this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.

Top Buffalo Trace Cocktails

Buffalo Trace cocktails–so many Buffalo Trace cocktails!

1. Buffalo Sour

I LOVE this classic cocktail balanced by Buffalo Trace’s sweet approachable taste, lemon’s tartness, and simple syrup. I make my simple syrup with Stevia.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 1 oz lemon juice, 0.75 oz simple syrup, egg white (optional). Shake with ice, strain into rocks glass.

2. Blood Orange Manhattan

Buffalo Trace bourbon meets Carpano Antica, and blood orange bitters for a complex, citrus-y sipper on the rocks. I’m using a blood orange bitter I picked up at Whole Foods. If you can’t find it, I recommend a few dashes of Angostura.

Easy Recipe: Shake 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.5 oz Carpano Antica, 2-3 dashes of blood orange bitters. Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry and orange peel.

3. Buffalo Blackberry Smash

Today I’m sharing my favorite smash in a glass! The rich caramel and vanilla notes of Buffalo Trace bourbon play nicely with fruity blackberries and tart lemon. And club soda adds bubbly finish.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 3-4 fresh blackberries, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.75 oz simple syrup, 2 oz club soda, lemon wedge and blackberry for garnish. In a shaker tin, muddle the blackberries with the simple syrup and lemon juice. Add Buffalo Trace bourbon and ice, and shake vigorously. Double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda and give a gentle stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wedge and fresh blackberry.

4. Buffalo Trace Boulevardier

Bold Negroni-style cocktail with bitter Campari balancing Buffalo Trace’s sweetness. I think this drink is swanky yet easy to mix.

Easy Recipe: 1.5 oz Buffalo Trace, 1 oz Campari, 1 oz sweet vermouth. Stir with ice, strain into rocks glass, orange twist garnish.

5. Giddy Up Buffalo

When you need a little pick-me-up with some serious kick, this caffeinated bourbon cocktail is just the ticket. It’s like a boozy spin on your morning cup of joe – perfect for getting the party started.

Easy Recipe: 1 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream 1 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon 1 oz espresso 0.5 oz simple syrup Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with shaved chocolate and a mint sprig.

6. Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned

The classic made even better. Buffalo Trace’s bold flavors shine in this no-fuss cocktail. Sip and feel like a true bourbon aristocrat.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 1 sugar cube, orange twist. Muddle sugar cube with bitters, add bourbon, stir with ice.

7. Trace Tea

Each sip of this Buffalo Trace cocktail offers familiar iced tea flavors with a bourbon twist. Trace Tea is ideal for kicking back on the patio. It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy bourbon in the summer.

Easy Recipe: Stir 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 4 oz freshly brewed black tea, chilled 1 oz simple syrup, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 2 oz Sprite in a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

8. S’more Buffalo

This decadent cocktail captures all the toasty, gooey goodness of the classic campfire s’more – no open flame required. To double down on the chocolate factor, the glass gets an enticing cocoa-dusted rim.

Easy Recipe: 1 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream 1.5 oz Wheatley Vodka 1 oz Honey Chocolate syrup Toasted mini marshmallows Honey graham cracker Coat the bottom of a coupe glass with chocolate syrup. Add bourbon cream, vodka, honey and ice to a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a honey graham cracker and toasted mini marshmallows. Drizzle more chocolate syrup over the top.

9. Gold Rush

Liquid gold! This frothy, citrusy number is dangerously easy to sip. Buffalo Trace plays nice with honey’s sweetness.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.75 oz honey syrup, 0.75 oz lemon juice, egg white. Shake hard, strain into rocks glass.

10. Midnight Special

This noir-inspired sipper had me feeling like a gumshoe on a case. Buffalo Trace takes the lead, with the herbal amaro and maraschino liqueur playing supporting roles. Each sip unveils layers of complexity.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.75 oz Amaro Averna, 0.25 oz maraschino liqueur, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir with ice, strain into coupe glass.

11. Buffalo Brew

As a beer lover, I was skeptical of this bourbon-beer mashup at first. But one sip and I was a believer! Buffalo Trace’s richness plays so well with the coffee notes of the stout.

Easy Recipe: 4 oz stout beer, 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.5 oz coffee liqueur. Build in a glass over ice, stir gently.

12. The Champ

They don’t make ’em like this anymore – a true throwback sipper that’ll have you feeling like the bourbon-soaked boxer who inspired it. Buffalo Trace gets a dose of bright, zesty grapefruit.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.75 oz grapefruit juice, 0.25 oz honey syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Shake with ice, strain into coupe glass.

13. Buffalo Julep

As a Kentucky native, the mint julep is sacred ground. But Buffalo Trace puts an incredible bourbon-forward spin on the classic. It’s a sophisticated classic that lets you indulge your sweet tooth and love of bourbon.

Easy Recipe: 8-10 mint leaves, 0.5 oz simple syrup, muddle. Add 2 oz Buffalo Trace, crushed ice. Churn with muddler, garnish with mint sprig.

14. When Pigs Fly

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I first discovered this recipe– Buffalo Trace, maple syrup, and…bacon fat? But sometimes you have to experiment. One sip and I was a believer. It’s like the most indulgent, bourbon-spiked breakfast you’ve ever tried.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz bacon fat-washed Buffalo Trace, 0.5 oz maple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir with ice, strain over large cube.

15. Buffalo Slushy

This frosty bourbon slushy is a brain-freezing sip for maximum refreshment!

Easy Recipe: 3 oz Buffalo Trace, 2 oz lemon juice, 1 oz simple syrup, 1 cup crushed ice. Blend until slushy consistency.

16. Buffalo Trace Banana Split

Buffalo Trace gets the nostalgic banana split treatment, making for a rich, indulgent sipper that’s one part sweet fantasy, one part boozy reality.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 1 oz chocolate syrup, 1 oz vanilla syrup, 1 banana, 2 scoops ice cream, cherry garnish. Blend all ingredients.

17. Cider House Rules

With each tart sip, you’re transported to an autumnal New England orchard at peak harvest.

Easy Recipe: 4 oz hard cider, 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.5 oz lemon juice, 0.25 oz maple syrup. Build in a glass over ice, stir gently.

18. Violet Hour

This violet-hued tipple is like Buffalo Trace dressed up for the opera. Creme de violette lends a delicate floral aroma, while the rich bourbon shines through with each velvety sip.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 0.5 oz creme de violette, 0.25 oz simple syrup, 2 dashes orange bitters. Stir with ice, strain into coupe glass.

19. Betty Carter

Named for the legendary jazz singer, this riff on the Manhattan has all the smoky, well-composed notes you’d expect from a bourbon-based cocktail.

Easy Recipe: 2 oz Buffalo Trace, 1 oz Averna amaro, 0.5 oz sweet vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir with ice, strain into coupe glass.

Related: 20 Bourbon Martini Recipes

20. White Buffalo

This tropical twist on a bourbon cocktail is like taking Buffalo Trace on a beach vacation.

Easy Recipe: 1.5 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream 0.75 oz Parrot Bay Coconut Rum Coconut flakes for garnish Combine bourbon cream and coconut rum in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Alternatively, blend ingredients with ice for a frosty consistency. Garnish with coconut flakes.

21. Buffalo Bloom

I was intrigued with this Buffalo Trace cocktail recipe when I found it. I will admit that I was mostly excited to use up that bottle of Martini Bianco I had–after creating my 21 Cocktails with Martini Bianco (Easy Recipes) post. You’ll be in love at first sip!

Easy Recipe: Shake 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 1/2 oz Martini Bianco, 1 dash Punt e Mes vermouth, 1/2 tsp honey syrup, and ice. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with mint leaf.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon FAQs

What is Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey?

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has an approachable, complex taste with hints of vanilla, toffee, candied fruit. Tracing its origins back to 1775, Buffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. Buffalo Trace is named after the buffalo migration route that crossed the Kentucky River where the distillery is located.

Is Buffalo Trace a sipping whiskey?

Buffalo Trace can certainly be enjoyed as a sipping whiskey. Its smooth and balanced flavor profile, along with its smooth, lingering finish, make it a popular choice for those who enjoy sipping on neat or on the rocks.

Is Buffalo Trace good for beginners?

Buffalo Trace can be a great choice for those who are just starting to explore whiskey. Its smooth and balanced flavor profile, along with its approachable and easy-drinking nature, make it a popular choice for those who are new to whiskey.

More cocktails!

LOVE cocktails? Me too! Here are a few more drinks I know you’ll love:

Cheers!

I’d love to know how your Buffalo Trace cocktails turn out… Let me know in the comments below. Enjoy!