Most people are first introduced to bourbon in college — “Beam and Coke” or “Makers and Coke” when rollin’ high.
The confused co-ed may even mistakenly ask for a “Jack and Coke”, thinking Jack Daniels is a bourbon.
I guess this is a reasonable choice when the purpose is really to hide the flavors of the whiskey, since the sweetness of the bourbon pairs well with Coke. (by pairing well, I mean smothering the remaining flavors)
But after five or six bourbon and Cokes and a monster hangover for the umpteenth time, most are convinced they don’t like bourbon, which is a real shame.
At the other end of the spectrum, many bourbon purists think that it shouldn’t be mixed or diluted at all. I would agree for many of the top-shelf brands. But bourbon has its place in a good cocktail — in fact, bourbon was a main ingredient in many of the earliest cocktails.
Read on for advice on how to do it right!
