This bourbon iced tea cocktail with a homemade grapefruit simple syrup is a refreshing and flavorful cocktail that is perfect for a relaxing evening or summer day. Combining the classic flavors of ice tea and complex taste of bourbon, this cocktail will satisfy your thirst! All your need is a few simple ingredients and less than 15 minutes.
I absolutely love celebrating the seasons with a great cocktail! Some of my favorite for the summer season are my pina colada sangria, my jalapeno strawberry margarita or my cucumber moscow mule.
Check out out my whole section of make at home cocktails for your next celebration!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Customizable. This cocktail is extremely customizable based on your taste buds. If you enjoy a sweeter cocktail, add more simple syrup.
- Impressive, yet simple. This cocktail will impress all of your friends due to homemade grapefruit simple syrup. While it tastes like a bartender made it, it is only a few simple steps with ingredients likely already in your pantry.
- Great for a group. Because this bourbon iced tea required brewed tea and homemade simple syrup, it is easy to make it for a large group. Make one or two batches and kick back knowing you do not have to re-make any drinks.
- Refreshing. This grapefruit simple syrup drink is bursting with fresh flavor, making it refreshing after a hot summer day.
INGREDIENT NOTES
Bourbon. Bourbon is the base spirit for this cocktail. I like Elijah Craig or Makers Mark, but any bourbon will work well. You can also use whiskey if you do not have bourbon hand.
Black Tea. Black tea bags allow this drink to have a refreshing taste. You can find black tea bags in your local grocery store. Lipton is a popular brand for black tea and sold in most grocery stores, as well as some convenient stops. You can also use pre-made iced tea, but be sure there is no sugar added.
Sugar. Sugar is used to make the grapefruit simple syrup for this recipe. If you are vegan, make sure to use organic sugar. Conventional sugars can be bleached with non-vegetarian ingredients. You can also use monk fruit or stevia.
Grapefruit. Fresh grapefruit is required for this recipe to make the simple syrup. Pre-made grapefruit juice will not work.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Begin by making the grapefruit simple syrup. Slice the grapefruit into ⅕ inch slices and place them, as well as the water and sugar, into a medium sized sauce pan. Gently heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves, approximately 2 minutes. Remove the sauce pan from the heat, and allow the simple syrup to cool for 5 minutes.
Step 2. While the simple syrup is cooling, begin brewing the tea as directed by the package. Once the tea is made, allow it to cool by placing it in the refrigerator for 5 minutes
Step 3. Once the simple syrup has cooled, strain the liquid into a heat resistant container or glass. You can throw away or compost the grapefruit slices.
Step 4. Begin to assemble the cocktail. Add ice to a glass and add in the bourbon, simple syrup and iced tea. Mix well then garnish with a grapefruit slice and fresh herbs, such as mint or rosemary.
TIME SAVING HACKS
Because this cocktail does involve prep time, if you are short on time, cut down on time by making the grapefruit simple syrup and black tea ahead of time.
To pre-make the grapefruit syrup, follow the directions then place it in a heat resistant container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to use it, gently mix it.
To pre-make the iced tea, brew the tea according to the instructions on the package then place it in a glass or container with a lid and place it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Shake well before using it in the cocktail.
STORAGE
I do not recommend storing this cocktail, but rather, storing the iced tea and simple syrup separately.
If you do need to store the cocktail, remove any ice and place it in the refrigerator for up to 5 hours.
RECIPE FAQS
It is likely you boiled your grapefruit syrup, causing the molecules to evaporate, resulting in a thicker, sweeter syrup. If you do not want to start over, no problem - simply add ½ of the direction about of simple syrup to this cocktail then go up from there.
Yes, you certainly can. I like to brew it fresh so I know exactly how much water was added. If you prefer to buy store bought, be sure not to buy one with added sugar.
Because this cocktail uses a grapefruit simple syrup, I do not recommend using anything other than black tea unless the flavor is complimentary to grapefruit.
EXPERT TIPS
- Gently heat your simple syrup. Do not boil the simple syrup or it will cause the syrup to become too thick and too sweet. Gently allow it to warm up and once the sugar has dissolved, remove it from the heat.
- Add fun garnishes! What makes a cocktail fun is the garnish. Add grapefruit slices and fresh herbs to make this drink really stand out.
MORE COCKTAILS
Bourbon Iced Tea with Grapefruit Simple Syrup
Ingredients
Black Tea
- 4 cups water
- 4 black tea bags
Simple Syrup
- 4 -5 slices grapefruit
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ cup sugar
Cocktail
- 1 oz bourbon
- 2 oz ice tea
- 2 to 4 oz simple syrup start with 2 and adjust for taste
- Ice
Instructions
- Begin by making the grapefruit simple syrup. Slice the grapefruit into ⅕ inch slices and place them, as well as the water and sugar, into a medium sized sauce pan. Gently heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves, approximately 2 minutes. Remove the sauce pan from the heat, and allow the simple syrup to cool for 5 minutes.
- Brew the tea.Brew the black tea according to the package. Once it is down steeping, place it in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to cool.
- Once the simple syrup is done cooling, strain the liquid into a heat resistant container or glass. You can throw away or compost the grapefruit slices.
- Begin to assemble the cocktail. Add ice to a glass and add in the bourbon, simple syrup and iced tea. Mix well then garnish with a grapefruit slice and fresh herbs, such as mint or rosemary.
This sounds absolutely incredible! I cannot wait to try!
Thank you, Kim!
Oh my gosh this sounds amazing ... I'm not typically a bourbon person but combined with the iced tea and grapefruit I feel like this is going to be AMAZING!!
Thank you so much! The ice tea really harmonizes well with the bourbon to help ease the strongness of it