Kentucky Colonel
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 34.8% ABV ∙
The Kentucky Colonel is a stirred, spirit-forward sour-free cocktail of bourbon and Bénédictine, served over ice with a lemon twist. Warm bourbon oak leads, then Bénédictine's honeyed herbal sweetness folds in, finishing dry and slightly spiced — a slow, contemplative sipper for a nightcap.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 60 mlBénédictine D.O.M. liqueur 15 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice)
- Express a lemon twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir bourbon and Bénédictine with ice for about 20-25 seconds to properly chill and dilute without over-diluting this spirit-forward, sugar-light 4:1 build.
- Use large cubes for stirring rather than crushed ice to control dilution precisely, since the Bénédictine's sweetness leaves little room for excess water.
- Strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass over a single large cube to keep the drink cold longer while minimizing further dilution.
- Express the lemon twist's oils over the surface before dropping it in, brightening the herbal Bénédictine without adding excess citrus juice.
History
The Kentucky Colonel is a bourbon-and-Bénédictine cocktail first documented in Jacques Straub's Manual of Mixed Drinks, published in Chicago in 1913 (with a later edition in 1914), making it one of the earliest recorded American whiskey drinks to pair bourbon with the French herbal liqueur. Straub's original recipe called for bourbon and Bénédictine stirred together with a lemon twist, a formula close to an Old Fashioned but with the liqueur's sweetness and herbal character standing in for sugar and bitters. The drink's name references the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel, historically bestowed on notable individuals associated with the state, tying the cocktail to its bourbon-producing home. Later 20th-century versions, including those recorded in postwar bar guides, kept the same two-ingredient bourbon-Bénédictine base with only minor adjustments to proportions.
FAQ
What is a Kentucky Colonel?
It is a stirred cocktail made of bourbon and Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur, served over ice in an old-fashioned glass with a lemon twist. It is a simple two-ingredient spirit-forward drink built around bourbon's oak and the herbal honey notes of the French liqueur.
How do you make a Kentucky Colonel?
Stir bourbon and Bénédictine together with ice until well chilled, then strain or pour over fresh ice into an old-fashioned glass. Finish with an expressed lemon twist as garnish; no shaking or muddling is involved, just a clean stir-and-serve build.
Is a Kentucky Colonel shaken or stirred?
Stirred. Both ingredients are spirits with no citrus or egg to aerate, so stirring chills and lightly dilutes the drink while keeping it clear and smooth.
What glass is a Kentucky Colonel served in?
An old-fashioned (rocks) glass, over ice, garnished with a lemon twist.
What's in Kentucky Colonel seasoned flour?
This refers to a fried-chicken coating recipe, not the cocktail; the two share only a Kentucky nickname and no other connection. The cocktail on this page is a two-ingredient bourbon drink, not a food seasoning.
