Bourbon Slush Recipe delivers a frozen cocktail that combines black tea, orange juice, lemonade, and bourbon into a refreshing, make-ahead drink. The sugar and alcohol content prevent the mixture from freezing solid, creating a scoopable slush you serve with a spoon or straw.
This classic bourbon slush offers easy preparation, crowd-pleasing flavor, and convenient freezer storage for summer party drinks or holiday gatherings. You make Bourbon Slush by steeping black tea bags, adding sugar, mixing in frozen orange juice concentrate and frozen lemonade concentrate, pouring in bourbon, and freezing the blend in a large freezer-safe container overnight.
What is Bourbon Slush?
Bourbon slush is a frozen cocktail recipe featuring black tea, orange juice, lemonade, and bourbon whiskey. The mix freezes for several hours. Because of the alcohol and sugar content, it doesn’t freeze completely solid, making it easy to scrape into a slush that you eat with a spoon or sip through a straw.
Classic bourbon slush recipes trace back to college days in Kentucky, home of the Bourbon Trail. This boozy slush recipe works for summer parties, winter gatherings, or any occasion needing a refreshing cocktail recipe that serves a crowd.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make with 6 simple ingredients
- Make ahead slush that stores in the freezer for weeks
- Refreshing cocktail recipe perfect for summer party drinks
- Crowd-pleasing batch cocktail that serves 10 people
- Customizable with rum, fruit juices, or flavored simple syrups
- No blender needed—just stir to combine and freeze overnight
Ingredients
Ingredients 1x 2x 3x
- 1 cup boiling water (236 mL)
- 2 black tea bags (Lipton or your favorite brand)
- 6 tablespoons sugar (75 g)
- 3 cups cold water (708 mL)
- ¾ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed enough to mix (177 mL)
- 1 (12-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed enough to mix (340 g)
- ¾ cup bourbon or rum (177 mL) — try Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, or Old Forester
US Customary | Metric | Scale: 1x 2x 3x
How to Make Bourbon Slush
Instructions
- Steep the tea: Add black tea bags to boiling water. Steep for 4 minutes; discard teabags. Add the sugar and stir to combine until dissolved. Add the cold water and stir again.
- Mix the slush base: Add the orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, tea mixture, and bourbon to a large (2.5-quart) freezer-safe container. Whisk to combine until smooth.
- Freeze overnight: Cover tightly and freeze for 6-8 hours or overnight. The bourbon prevents the mixture from freezing solid, creating perfect ice crystals for a scoopable texture.
- Scrape and serve: When ready to serve, use a spoon or fork to scrape slush into glasses. Add a lemon twist or orange twist for garnish if desired.
Notes
- Makes around 2 ½ quarts (10 servings of 1 cup each)
- Don’t use top-shelf bourbon here—mid-range bottles like Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, or Old Forester work best
- Frozen concentrates don’t need full thawing; slushy consistency mixes easier
- For a non-bourbon version, swap in rum for a tropical twist
- Stir the mixture every 2 hours during freezing for faster, more even freezing
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 168 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 0.3 g | Saturated Fat: 0.02 g | Sodium: 9 mg | Potassium: 159 mg | Fiber: 0.3 g | Sugar: 29 g | Vitamin A: 81 IU | Vitamin C: 35 mg | Calcium: 13 mg | Iron: 0.1 mg
Nutrition data calculated programmatically. Consult a health professional for personalized advice.
Bourbon vs. Whiskey
Bourbon is whiskey made in the USA from a corn-based mash bill. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon, which explains why this bourbon slush recipe connects to the Bourbon Trail. Scottish whisky (spelled without the “e”) uses malted barley and different distillation methods. For this frozen bourbon cocktail recipe, choose a small batch bourbon or mid-range barrel aged bourbon for balanced flavor without overspending.
Serving Suggestions
Serve bourbon slush in rocks glasses with a spoon and straw. Garnish with a lemon twist, orange twist, or maraschino cherry for visual appeal. Top with lemon lime soda, ginger ale, or cranberry juice to lighten the alcohol content and add fizz. Pair this frozen cocktail with garlic butter mussels, BBQ fare, or summer appetizers for a cohesive party spread. For college throwback vibes, serve alongside jungle juice or peach daiquiris.
Variations
- Peach bourbon slush: Replace orange juice concentrate with frozen peach medley and add peach simple syrup
- Cranberry bourbon bliss: Swap orange juice for cranberry juice and add a splash of ginger ale when serving
- Citrus infused simple: Use homemade lemon simple syrup or citrus herbal infusion instead of granulated sugar
- Mint julep variation: Muddle fresh mint leaves into the slush base before freezing for a herbal note
- Ginger peach bourbon: Add ginger peach bourbon or smoked simple syrup for warm spice notes
- Winter citrus explosion: Use blood orange juice and add a pinch of cinnamon for cold-weather gatherings
Tips & FAQs
Can I make bourbon slush without tea? Yes, bourbon slush recipe without tea works by replacing the sweet tea base with extra lemonade or orange juice. The flavor profile shifts toward citrus, but the slush texture remains the same.
How do I make bourbon slush for a crowd? Double or triple the recipe using a Pyrex 8-Piece Mixing Bowl Set or gallon freezer bags. The large freezer-safe container method scales easily for holiday bourbon delight gatherings.
Will bourbon slush freeze solid? No, the alcohol and sugar content prevent complete freezing. For overnight freezer alchemy, stir the mixture every 2 hours during the first 6 hours to encourage fine ice crystals and faster freezing.
What bourbon should I use? Choose mid-range bourbon like Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, or Old Forester. Avoid cheap bottles that taste harsh, but save barrel aged bourbon for sipping neat.
Can I use a blender for bourbon slush? Yes, bourbon slush recipe blender method works for immediate serving. Blend frozen slush with a splash of lemon lime soda for a smoother texture, though the traditional scrape-and-serve method preserves the signature granita-like consistency.
Storage
Store bourbon slush in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Label with the date and recipe name. Thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before scraping. Refreeze leftovers without texture loss. For best results, use US Customary and Metric measurements when scaling recipes for storage portions.
