Kentucky Colonel No. 2
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 17% ABV ∙
The Kentucky Colonel No. 2 is a shaken bourbon sour built with peach purée, triple sec, and Southern-style whisky liqueur, served over ice. Peach sweetness leads, bourbon warmth follows underneath, and fresh lemon keeps the finish bright rather than syrupy — an easy porch-sipping pour.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 45 mlTriple sec 10 mlPeach purée 30 mlSouthern / Louisiana-style whisky liqueur 10 mlLemon juice 15 mlSugar syrup 15 ml
- Strain into the glass filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with a peach slice and a mint sprig
Tips
- Shake all six ingredients hard for a full 12-15 seconds with cubed ice to fully emulsify the peach purée into the liquor and juice base.
- Fine-strain (double-strain through a mesh strainer) over fresh cubes into the old-fashioned glass to catch any peach pulp fibers and keep the texture clean.
- Balance the bourbon and Southern Comfort-style liqueur separately from the peach purée and lemon juice so neither the fruit nor the sugar syrup masks the whisky notes.
- Fan the peach slice and tuck the mint sprig against the rim just before serving so the garnish releases aroma without wilting from the shaken chill.
History
Kentucky Colonel No. 2 is a twist on the Kentucky Colonel, a bourbon-and-Benedictine drink first recorded in Jacques Straub's 1913-1914 manual of mixed drinks, where it appeared as a simple, stirred variation on the Old Fashioned, with the French herbal liqueur Benedictine standing in for the sugar. The cocktail takes its name from the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel, the highest distinction bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky since the 1880s, though sources note the name may just as plausibly nod to the bourbon itself. No single inventor or bar is credited, and the original recipe's only documented ingredients beyond bourbon and Benedictine were a lemon twist and, in some early versions, a dash of bitters. This No. 2 iteration departs from that stirred, spirit-forward original by turning it into a shaken, fruit-driven sour, bringing in peach and citrus alongside a Southern-style whiskey liqueur in place of the Benedictine.
FAQ
What is a Kentucky Colonel No. 2 cocktail?
It is a shaken bourbon drink built around peach and citrus rather than the simple bourbon-and-mint highball the name sometimes suggests. This version, the Kentucky Colonel No. 2, combines bourbon with triple sec, peach purée, a Southern-style whisky liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup, shaken and served over ice in an old-fashioned glass with a peach slice and mint sprig.
What is the recipe for the Kentucky Colonel No. 2 cocktail?
This recipe uses bourbon as the base, built up with triple sec, peach purée, a Southern-style whisky liqueur such as Southern Comfort, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup. It is shaken and poured over ice into an old-fashioned glass, garnished with a peach slice and a mint sprig. At about 17% ABV, it drinks lighter and fruitier than a straight bourbon cocktail.
Is a Kentucky Colonel No. 2 shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The peach purée, citrus, and syrup all need the vigorous aeration and quick chilling of a shake to blend smoothly; stirring would leave the purée separated and the texture thin.
What glass is a Kentucky Colonel No. 2served in?
An old-fashioned glass, served over ice and finished with a peach slice and a mint sprig.
