The key to a great bourbon cocktail is to produce a drink which complements the flavor profile of the bourbon and doesn’t mask it. After all, we’re not talking about any old hooch here. Bourbon is the all-American spirit created and made in the United States of America. It truly is our contribution to the world of distilled spirits.

Author Steve Akley has gathered 50 unique bourbon cocktails from 50 iconic bars. In fact, it’s actually 53 unique cocktails from 52 iconic bars but that title just didn’t sound as good. One submitted two cocktails that fit in its chapter and two other locations submitted cocktails after the book was complete but prior to the final layout being completed. Steve elected to include them and figures they are a great “value add” taking the cocktail count beyond the stated amount.

By the way, we’re not talking the “same old/same old” here. We’re talking about signature cocktails from some of the greatest drinking establishments in the United States.

Take a look at this lineup of participants:

Bale of Hay Saloon/Virgina City, Montana

Big Star/Chicago, Illinois

Bourbons Bistro/Louisville, Kentucky

Bourbon and Branch/San Francisco, California

Bourbon House/New Orleans, Louisiana

Bub City/Chicago, Illinois

Buckhorn Exchange/Denver, Colorado

Buffalo Bodega Gaming Complex/Deadwood, South Dakota

Butter Run Saloon/St. Clair Shores, Michigan

Down One Bourbon Bar and Restaurant/Louisville, Kentucky

E. Smith Mercantile/Seattle, Washington

El Gaucho/Seattle, Washington

El Moro Spirits & Tavern/Durango, Colorado

Equus and Jack’s Lounge/Louisville, Kentucky

The Esquire Tavern/San Antonio, Texas

FAR BAR/Los Angeles, Calfornia

Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge/Alameda, California


Gallagher’s Restaurant/Waterloo, Illinois

Hard Water/San Francisco, California

Herbie’s Vintage 72/St. Louis, Missouri

Jack Rose Dining Saloon/Washington, DC

Martin’s Tavern/Washington, DC

Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood/St. Louis, Missouri

Miller House/Owensboro, Kentucky

Mongoose versus Cobra/Houston, Texas

9th Street Public House/Columbia, Missouri

Old Ebbitt Grill/Washington, DC

Old Major/Denver, Colorado

Parlay Social/Lexington, Kentucky

Parson’s Chicken and Fish/Chicago, IL

Peacock Alley/Bismarck, North Dakota

The Pope House Bourbon Lounge/Portland, Oregon


The Porthole Restaurant and Pub/Portland, Maine

Red Moon/Put-in-Bay, Ohio

The Roosevelt/Richmond, Virginia

The Round Robin Bar at Intercontinental The Willard/Washington, DC

Sable Kitchen & Bar/Chicago, Illinois

Sanctuaria Wild Tapas/St. Louis, Missouri

Seviche, A Latin Restaurant/Louisville, Kentucky

Sloppy Joe’s/Key West, Florida

St. Charles Exchange/Louisville, Kentucky

The Sugar House/Detroit Michigan

Talbott Tavern/Bardstown, Kentucky

The Tavern In Old Salem/Salem, North Carolina

Tonga Hut/Palm Springs, California

The West End Tavern/Boulder, Colorado

Whiskey Bar/Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Whiskey Kitchen/Nashville, Tennessee

Windmill Lounge/Dallas Texas

Wiseguy Lounge at Goodfellas Pizzeria/Covington, Kentucky

Bring home the spirit of these iconic bars by recreating their signature bourbon cocktail by picking up a copy of this edition of Bourbon Mixology!