There’s a myth that bourbon has to be enjoyed a certain way.
Some say it must be neat. Others swear by adding a splash of water. Purists raise eyebrows at cocktails. But here’s what the experts say: drink it however you like.
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From Kentucky master distillers to spirits authors and bartenders, the message is clear. The best way to enjoy bourbon is the way that suits you. Whether you’re new to whiskey or a long-time fan, there’s no right or wrong.
This guide breaks bourbon down into five easy steps. Each one is backed by trusted voices in the industry. Try them out, mix and match, and find your favorite pour.
Step 1: Try It Neat (To Get to Know It)
The best place to start with bourbon is neat. That means no water, no ice, no mixers. Just the whiskey, straight from the bottle to the glass. This helps you to understand what’s in your glass.
Frank Caiafa, author of The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book, recommends tasting every bourbon neat before making any adjustments. “I taste everything, no matter what the proof is, straight with no water, just to get the true characteristics and to taste the intention of the distiller, to see what they want in there.”
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Take a small sip. Let it sit on your tongue. Try to pick out the flavors. You might notice caramel, vanilla, spice, oak, or even citrus. Open your mouth slightly as you breathe in the aromas. It helps reduce the alcohol burn on your nose and allows more of the bourbon’s character to come through.
This first sip is your baseline. You don’t have to stick with it if you don’t want to, but it gives you a sense of what the distiller worked hard to create.
From here, you can start experimenting.
Step 2: Add a Splash of Water (See What Changes)
Once you’ve tried bourbon neat, try adding a little water.
Just a few drops can make a big difference. It softens the burn and opens up the aroma. Many master distillers do this themselves when sampling high-proof bourbon.
This isn’t about weakening the whiskey. It’s about finding balance. Water helps unlock subtle flavors and aromas that can be hard to detect at full strength.
Start small. A few drops. Then taste again. Notice how the flavors shift. Some bourbons become sweeter. Others mellow out.
Rabbit Hole Distillery agrees with this sentiment, saying: “The idea is that with many of the flavors and aromas being oil-based, a bit of water will separate the flavors and open up the bourbon. While it does dilute some, it can make the experience better by allowing all the flavors and aromas to come through.”
If you are looking for a tool to help you add the perfect amount of water to your bourbon, the Glencairn pipette can be very useful. It gives you a lot of control, and negates the prospect of overwatering (like I accidentally did once with a Four Roses Single Barrel. I was quite upset).
With that said, there is no perfect ratio. It is just about what works for you.
Step 3: Drop in Some Ice (Yes, That’s Allowed)
Plenty of bourbon drinkers (including me) prefer their bourbon chilled. If that’s you, go ahead and add ice.
A single cube can take the edge off. It cools the spirit and slowly dilutes it, which softens bold flavors and lowers the burn. For some, that makes bourbon far more enjoyable.
Large cubes or ice spheres melt slowly and are ideal if you want to chill the drink without watering it down too fast. You’ll notice how the flavor evolves as the ice melts. The first sip might be strong and bracing. By the third or fourth, it’s softer, sweeter, and more relaxed.
And, if you want to chill your bourbon without diluting it, whiskey stones are a great alternative.
There’s nothing wrong with drinking bourbon on the rocks. In fact, it might become your favorite way.
Step 4: Mix It Up (Cocktails Count Too)
Bourbon isn’t just for sipping. It’s the base of some of the most iconic cocktails in the world.
Old Fashioned. Manhattan. Whiskey Sour. Mint Julep. Each one highlights different sides of bourbon’s flavor.
Dan McKee, master distiller at Michter’s, enjoys a classic approach. “If I’m making a cocktail at home, I really enjoy a simple whiskey sour,” he says. “When I’m enjoying cocktails created by the professionals, a nice Manhattan with a little extra cherry juice is exceptional”.
A cocktail doesn’t hide the bourbon. It gives it a new context. The sweetness of sugar, the bite of citrus, or the depth of bitters can bring out flavors you might miss when drinking it neat.
Even longtime bourbon drinkers switch things up now and then. So don’t hesitate. Whether you’re shaking something fresh or ordering at a bar, mixing bourbon is still bourbon.
Step 5: Do What You Like (There Are No Real Bourbon Police)
This is the most important rule of all: drink bourbon however you enjoy it.
Neat. With water. On ice. In a cocktail. There’s no wrong answer. Even some of the most famous figures in the world of bourbon don’t care how you enjoy their product.
Fred Noe, seventh-generation master distiller at Jim Beam, says it best. “Drink it any damn way you want. If you want to add a little ginger ale, water, [or] cocktails. I don’t like rules on it”.
And if someone tells you there’s only one way to drink it, as some bourbon lovers on the internet have a tendency to do, ignore them.
As Jordan Moskal at Breaking Bourbon put it: “There is no wrong way to drink bourbon… Don’t let anyone ever make you feel bad or guilty about drinking it a certain way. Everyone has their own individual preferences, and every single person gets to enjoy it however they want.”
That’s the beauty of bourbon. Once the bottle is open, it’s yours. What you do next is entirely up to you.
What is your favorite way to enjoy bourbon? Do you mix it up based on brand or strength? Let us know in the comments below.
