Bourbon Cream Two Ways
Creamy bourbon makes delicious Southern-style drinks that can also count as dessert.
It is no surprise that bourbon is the spirit of choice in the South. It is an American whiskey, as 95% of the world’s bourbon is produced by distilleries in Kentucky. Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam are a few of the top-selling brands in the United States. Kentucky is reported to have more barrels of whiskey than there are people in the state.
So, what’s the difference between whiskey and bourbon? Whiskey is made from corn and other grains. In order for whiskey to become bourbon, the corn content must reach 51%. Corn is a sweet grain and thus gives bourbon its sweet flavor. Many distilleries use as much as 75% corn to make bourbon.
According to law, bourbon must be aged in new white oak barrels that have been freshly charred. Charring brings the natural sugar out of the wood and allows the whiskey to draw flavor and rich color from the wood. Two years is the minimum requirement for aging, but oftentimes the process lasts longer. Once the bourbon is aged and bottled, the barrels cannot be reused and are shipped to other countries for use for aging tequila, scotch and other spirits.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, has been making bourbon for more than 200 years. While the tradition of making high-quality bourbon and whiskey is at the forefront of their mission, Buffalo Trace Distillery has also crafted newer products, like Bourbon Cream.
My introduction to Bourbon Cream came last summer when friends came to visit. The doorbell rang, and they presented us with a bottle of this delightful blend. Our guests suggested we sip it poured over ice or add it to coffee as an after-dinner drink. I was immediately a fan.
As the name indicates, Bourbon Cream is velvety and delicious, with undertones of caramel and vanilla flavors. It is the perfect blend of smooth Kentucky bourbon and rich cream. We like to drink it cold, so we keep a bottle in the refrigerator.
I’ve been experimenting with new ways to use Bourbon Cream in dreamy drinks and desserts, and here are a couple of our favorites.
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- 1/2 cup ice
- 1/2 can Coke (6 ounces)
- 1 1/2 ounces Bourbon Cream
- 1 can root beer (12 ounces)
- 4 scoops ice cream of your choice
- 3 ounces Bourbon Cream
Ingredients
BC & Coke
Root Beer and Bourbon Cream Float
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- When my son came to town last summer, he suggested we make a Bourbon Cream and Coke. Why didn’t I think of this? It is the perfect combination of creamy bourbon and bubbly, sweet Coca-Cola. I think we stumbled onto a new classic. We call it a BC and Coke.
- Place ice cubes in a (short) bourbon glass.
- Pour ½ can of Coke over the ice.
- Pour one and a half ounces of Bourbon Cream into the glass. Sip and enjoy!
- I still crave the root beer floats of my youth once in a while, but now we can make the boozy version — root beer, vanilla ice cream and Bourbon Cream. The root beer pairs with the rich Bourbon Cream perfectly. I’m not sure if you’d call this a drink or a dessert, but I’d definitely call it a delicious treat. It is fun to mix it up a bit and use different flavors of ice cream, like caramel or chocolate fudge. I chose cookies and cream — so delicious!
- Pour 6 ounces of root beer into each of two tall glasses.
- Add two scoops of ice cream to each glass.
- Pour one and a half ounces of Bourbon Cream over the ice cream. Serve with a straw for sipping and a long spoon for eating the ice cream.
