Most people order whiskey and Coke at a bar and get whatever Tennessee whiskey is in the well, which is fine. But when you swap Tennessee whiskey for a good bourbon, the drink is richer and more interesting without changing anything else about how you make it.

Bourbon has a sweetness and an oak depth that Tennessee whiskey, which is generally charcoal-filtered for smoothness, doesn’t quite match. Against cola, the complexity of bourbon really comes through.

Which bourbon?

This is a drink where a mid-shelf bourbon is best. Four Roses Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace, or Woodford Reserve are all excellent choices.

The caramel, vanilla, and baking spice notes in a good bourbon pair with cola, making the drink feel more layered.

Wild Turkey 101 is worth trying if you want the bourbon to be more present. The higher proof cuts through the sweetness of the cola without getting lost.

Avoid very young or very cheap bourbon. The harshness shows up at the end of every sip in a two-ingredient drink.

Which cola?

Mexican Coke made with cane sugar is the best option. It’s less sweet and has a cleaner finish that doesn’t compete with the bourbon. Find it at Mexican grocery stores, restaurant supply shops, online, or just about anywhere in California.

Standard Coke works well, while Pepsi is slightly sweeter, but I think it has better carbonation.

Cocktail Ratios

Start with 2 oz of bourbon and 4 oz of cola. I pull back to about 3.5 oz cola to let the bourbon come through more. Taste it and adjust to your own tastes.

3-Ingredient Upgrade: Add a Citrus Peel

Similar to the Whiskey Cola, express an orange peel over the glass before dropping it in. Bending the peel skin-side toward the glass releases a fine mist of citrus oil that brightens the drink and pulls out the fruit notes in the bourbon.

It takes four seconds and makes a big difference.

A dash of Angostura bitters is another strong third-ingredient option. It adds depth and a slight spice that makes the drink taste ever so slightly closer to a low-effort Old Fashioned.

A channeling knife or fruit peeler gives you a clean, long orange peel with minimal effort. Fine more ideas in my cocktail garnishes guide.

Mocktail Version

Cola with a Luxardo cherry muddled lightly at the bottom of the glass and an expressed orange peel. The cherry adds tartness and depth, making the cola feel like more than just cola (Ok, so it’s basically cherry coke, but still tasty).

Non-alcoholic whiskey also subs in well.

Glassware

A lowball glass with a large ice cube makes this feel like a more complicated cocktail rather than a quick pour. A clear ice cube maker (I use this one) gives you slow-melting ice that keeps the drink cold without diluting the bourbon.

I keep a set of lowball glasses at home specifically for drinks like this.

Bourbon cocktails to try next:

• Date Pistachio Old Fashioned
• Blackberry Maple Bourbon Smash
• Lapsang Maple Sour

More 2-Ingredient Bourbon and Whiskey Cocktails:

• Bourbon Cola
• Bourbon & Soda
• Bourbon & Sweet Tea
• Whiskey Apple
• Whiskey Coffee
• Whiskey Coke
• Whiskey Ginger
• Whiskey Lemonade

Bourbon and Cola

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• 4 oz cola
• Orange peel, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a lowball or highball glass with ice.
2. Add bourbon.
3. Top with cola and stir gently.
4. Hold the orange peel skin-side down over the glass, bend to express the oils, and drop it in.

Citrus Lift (3-Ingredient Version)

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• 4 oz cola
• 1 orange peel
• Luxardo cherry, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill a lowball glass with one large ice cube or a highball glass with ice.
2. Add bourbon.
3. Top with cola and stir gently.
4. Express the orange peel over the glass and drop it in.
5. Add a Luxardo cherry if using.