Chocolate Bourbon Sour

About This Cocktail

Don’t let the name fool you — the Chocolate Bourbon Sour is not a dessert drink. Think subtle cacao warmth rather than candy bar sweetness. It’s a classic sour at heart, with the chocolate acting like a low-key bass note that makes the bourbon feel deeper, rounder, and more complex.

There’s something undeniably satisfying about the way chocolate and bourbon play together. The cacao adds earthy richness, the citrus lifts everything back up, and the bourbon carries the whole thing home. Shaken hard, this one comes out velvety, aromatic, and surprisingly elegant.

If you want to impress someone with a cocktail that sounds indulgent but drinks balanced, this is the one. Serve it in a coupe, skip the garnish or go minimal, and prepare for the “Wait… chocolate?” reaction to turn into “Okay, I need another one.”

Overall Balance

The chocolate element plays quietly but meaningfully, adding earthy depth without making the cocktail sweet. The citrus keeps things lifted, and the bourbon ties everything together. The result is velvety, aromatic, and surprisingly classic-feeling for something with cacao in it.

Notes & Fine Tuning Options

If you want stronger chocolate notes: increase the cacao liqueur slightly or use a darker-style chocolate bitters.
If you want less richness: lighten with an additional splash of citrus.
If you crave more bourbon-forward character: swing toward a higher-proof bourbon, which plays beautifully against the cacao.
For a sharper finish: add a single dash of Angostura.

Flavor Expectation

Expect a subtle cacao aroma, a bright citrus mid-palate, and a warm bourbon finish. The chocolate doesn’t dominate — it gently deepens the drink, giving it a round, elegant character.

Chocolate Bourbon Sour

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Difficulty: Easy

Servings

1

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

US Metric

• 2 oz 2 bourbon

• 1/4 oz 1/4 dark crème de cacao

• 3/4 oz 3/4 fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz 1/2 simple syrup

• 1-2 1-2 dashes chocolate bitters

Directions

• Add everything to a cocktail shaker with ice
• Shake until the shaker is frosty
• Pour over a large rock; garnish if desired

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Equipment

• 
  Stainless Bell JiggerBuy From A Bar Above
• 
  Stainless Boston ShakerBuy From A Bar Above
• 
  Stainless Hawthorne StrainerBuy From A Bar Above
• 
  Stainless Fine Mesh StrainerBuy From A Bar Above
• 
  Silicone Bar MatBuy From A Bar Above

Notes

• Stupidly good, tastes like a grown-up lemon-chocolate bar. Think subtle chocolate, not dessert. Works shockingly well.

Cocktail Recipes from Bourbony.co

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