Although tea might not be native to the United States, it has most certainly had enough of time to become a mainstay in American food and beverage culture. First rooted practically in South Carolina near the end of the 18th century, it later provided the foundation for one of the most beloved and recognizable beverages in the South. Sweet tea. Sweet tea permeated Maryland like winter creeper by the 1800s. Given this, it was impossible for the sweet drink to not eventually collide with bourbon, another beloved drink of the South. The two taken together create a quintessentially Southern cocktail.
Traditionalists appear to be suckers for everything bittersweet. Pulpy love books. After the last kiddo departs to college, an empty nest. And good beverages with strong bitter and sweet flavors. bourbon’s inclination for bitterness makes it only logical that it should be the preferred drink for individuals who could use a shot of bitter to counter the sugary flavor of sweet tea. This is especially true if your drink calls for an additional shot or two of simple syrup to boost its degree of sweetness.
whiskey takes the sweet tea from almost fruit punch-like taste a more grown-up libation in only a few seconds flat. The secret is a decent pour of Buffalo Trace bourbon or any other similarly moral spirit. Also perfectly good are bottom-shelf bourbons.
Making a sweet tea and bourbon cocktail right at home
Making some homemade simple syrup—which often asks for a one-to– one ratio of water to sugar—first helps you prepare this cocktail at home. More complex simple syrup recipes could call for boiling on the stove a mixture of water, sugar, lemon juice, and ginger during drink-making’s prep phases.
Regarding the tea, people who like their sweet tea recipes on the simpler side usually choose for basic black tea. But since this drink is both sweet and sour, many home gourmands spiff the tea with either a flavored black tea or a second sweet flavored tea. In the former scenario, including a peachy herbal tea such as Celestial Seasonings Country Peach Passion not only enhances the taste of the drink but also pays homage to the popularity of peach flavors in the South. Earl Grey is an excellent choice if you want a flavored black tea since bergamot provides the cocktail zesty overtones. It’s not quite on par in taste with an Arnold Palmer. Instead, it’s delicate and elegant, exactly what you need to stifle summertime heat.
Both cold-brew tea and even sun tea call for 10 to 12 hours to brew correctly, hence this recipe works great with either. Add the bourbon and simple syrup just after the tea is made. About garnish, some simple options include lemon and mint. To make every sip sweet from beginning to last, though, line the rim of your glass with sugar for flavor’s sake.
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