These sinfully tasty lemon thyme bourbon cocktails are crisp, classy, and ridiculously simple to prepare. With fresh citrus, peppery thyme, and a healthy serving of bourbon, this aromatic sweet-sour tipple will blow the roof off your next dinner party.
There are a million and one ways to pour a stiff drink, and in my youth, I think I tried most of them. But, as I’ve grown older, I’ve started to prioritize two things: intense flavors and high-quality, fresh ingredients.
These remarkable lemon thyme bourbon cocktails tick both of these boxes in a big way! The base is a refined-sugar-free simple syrup that I’ve been perfecting for years (see my Honey Mint Mojitos and Ginger Margaritas for more uses!). And the flavors are bright and bold.
There’s zingy fresh lemon, woody thyme, and mellow maple syrup in here, all mixed together to create a syrup that’s herby, citrussy, and super drinkable. The perfect balance of flavors meld beautifully with a rich, oaky bourbon to produce a classy cocktail that goes down very smoothly.
Serve over ice with a fresh lemon wedge, and invite some friends over. It’s so refreshing on hot days!
Ingredients for My Bourbon Whiskey Cocktails
This is all you’ll need to make a lemon thyme bourbon cocktail. The first three ingredients are for the syrup, then you simply add bourbon when it’s time to mix! You can find everything at any grocery store.
Pure Maple Syrup: The perfect substitution for sugar, pure maple syrup is responsible for the sweet flavor.
Fresh Lemon Juice: Brings a powerful, citrussy note that cuts through the palate and holds up to the robust bourbon. It’s sharp, refreshing, and perfect for sunny days.
Fresh Thyme: Adds a woody, slightly minty aroma that enhances the earthiness of the bourbon and balances out the lemon’s acidity.
Bourbon: With natural vanilla, oak, and caramel notes, bourbon is a classic cocktail spirit. This naturally sweet and rich American whiskey is incredibly versatile and goes down a treat with our lemon and thyme syrup. Use your favorite bourbon!
Recipe Customizations
- Replace the maple syrup with honey to make a honey syrup. It also works with regular white sugar.
- Swap out the fresh lemon for lime juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice.
- Add a small amount of lemon zest or orange peel to the syrup as you heat it for a stronger citrus aroma.
- For a winter vibe, add in a cinnamon stick.
- Swap out the bourbon for classic whisky to make a fancy whiskey sour.
- Use fresh mint instead of thyme.
Tips for A Perfect Bourbon Sour
- If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll torch the fresh thyme for a second before adding it to the syrup. This adds a subtle smoky note that pairs brilliantly with the bourbon.
- Our lemon thyme bourbon cocktails look absolutely divine. Serve in clear glassware to show off that radiant color.
- Serve it up in a chilled glass!
How to Make Lemon Thyme Bourbon Cocktails
Add the maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and fresh thyme to a small saucepan. Place it over the heat and bring to a boil. Mix everything together, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Then, strain it through a fine strainer to remove the thyme leaves. You can then refrigerate your simple syrup until ready to use!
When it’s time to mix, add a measure of thyme and lemon syrup to a cocktail shaker along with some bourbon and fill with ice, or use one large ice cube. Shake vigorously, then serve with lemon wedges. Voila!
These crisp, boozy lemon thyme bourbon cocktails are as classy as they come. Pick up a bottle of bourbon and whip up this great bourbon cocktail the next time you’re entertaining guests!
Can’t get enough of bourbon cocktail recipes? Here are five more incredible cocktail recipes!
More Cocktail Recipes:
- Cranberry Sauce Bourbon Cocktail
- Strawberry Moscow Mules
- Skinny Margaritas
- Cranberry Dark and Stormy
- Honey Mint Mojitos
Enjoy this refreshing drink!
Lemon Thyme Bourbon Cocktails
Ingredients
Lemon Thyme Simple Syrup:
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
Each Cocktail:
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce Lemon Thyme simple syrup
- Lemon wedge for serving
Instructions
Make the Simple Syrup
- Heat all of the ingredients for the simple syrup in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook at a gentle boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow syrup to cool to room temperature. Strain syrup with a fine strainer to remove the thyme leaves. Refrigerate until ready to use. Note: Simple syrup can be saved in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Make a Cocktail:
- Combine the ingredients for one cocktail in a shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously and serve over ice with a lemon wedge. Note: you can also make multiple cocktails at a time, or even a large batch of cocktails.
im confused on the lemon extract. I do not see it in the ingredient list.
“Add the pure lemon extract and refrigerate until ready to use. Note: Simple syrup can be saved in a sealed”
Hi Tanya! My apologies for the confusion. When I originally shared the recipe, I used lemon extract. But after trying the cocktail with just lemon juice, I decided it didn’t need lemon extract so I omitted it from the ingredient list (but apparantly not the instructions). I have fixed the recipe to remove the notation about the extract. Thanks for catching that!
Your instructions mention pure lemon extract but doesn’t list it in the ingredients. Is it parr of the recipe?
Hi Anna! My apologies for the confusion – I used to add a little pure lemon extract to the cocktail but it can also be made with just fresh lemon juice. Hope you enjoy! xo
delicious, thank you! we used grapefruit instead of lemon, with a touch of lemon juice and a touch of yuzu juice.
Ahhh grapefuit sounds amazing!! I’ll have to try this, thank you! 😉
Snakes don’t usually bother me but I’m pretty sure I’d be experiencing full blown anxiety if I came across a huge rattler! This lemony thymy cocktail would be much needed after that experience. Great cocktail, Julia!
Well, I would have been in the midst of a panic attack if I were you…but you handled it tres tres well. Though, I’m glad you rewarded yourself for your calm behavior with these cocktails! So into this citrus herby cocktail experience.
I’m still in awe that you lunged over a rattle snake! Um yeah, that’s pretty hard core. Especially considering that it sounded like a mean Joey Tribiani. 😉
I love a good persnickity cocktail and to tell you the truth, it’s the only kind I’ll drink these days. I rarely go for gard liquor but when it’s mixed with a bunch of deliciousness and dressed up all pretty like this, I just can’t help it! The lemon thyme combo sounds SO refreshing!
And I have to address the Miranda + Blake divorce before I go. WTF is happening to everybody?! It’s depressing the shit out of me.
I’m no fan of snakes, but I think the coyote would have gave me a run for my money. Now that I’m in my 30s, I have a 2 cocktail limit, so I always make sure I’m getting my money’s worth. You had me at bourbon. Love this boozy beverage. Lay it on me!
As a card carrying Indoor Girl, I am surprised you kept running and kept your cool for the most part. I would have probably just started crying and turned around and gone home to have a few of these cocktails!
You what? Jumped over a rattlesnake? I need a shot of bourbon straight up to recover from this story.
What a tale! My jog/hike would have ended right there. No scuzi here. Love the cocktail. (Am bummed myself about Blake and Miranda.)
So gorgeous! I love these photos. I have a bottle of lemon extract and LOVE using it in baking, but never thought to use it in a drink. Brilliant! Pinning 🙂
Love the lemon and thyme combo and your photos are lovely!
WHAT! I got sweaty palms just reading your story because nooo thank you verymuch I will stay a million feet away from that thing. Anywho, extracts in boozy drinks sound like a brilliant idea (personally I would drink vanilla extract straight up if it was socially acceptable) and I am totally on board with getting my does of Vitamin C in these. Happy Friday friend! xoxo