Bourbon and Root Beer
Modified: Published: by Nora Breyer Combine Good Flavors 5 Comments
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Dark, fizzy, and ridiculously easy to make, this bourbon and root beer cocktail is exactly the kind of drink I want for Halloween: dramatic on the table, simple behind the scenes, and ready in just a few minutes.
Last Halloween, I went very dark with my Black Velvet Cocktail. While I was working on it, friends kept suggesting root beer. It has that same deep, almost black color, and the idea stuck with me.
So this year, I finally played around with it.
The first combination I tried was bourbon and root beer, and it just worked.
The bourbon brings warmth with a little oak and vanilla, while the root beer adds sweetness, spice, and plenty of fizz. I added a dash of Angostura bitters to give everything a little more depth, but that part is completely optional.
What makes this root beer cocktail especially good for Halloween, though, is how little work it needs. Bourbon, cold root beer, ice. That’s basically it.
Which means you can spend your time on the fun part. 👻
Why You Will Love This Bourbon and Root Beer Cocktail
Just a few ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 How to Make a Bourbon and Root Beer Cocktail
Fill the Glass with Ice
Fill a highball or long drink glass generously with ice. If you have time, chill the glass first. Starting with everything nice and cold helps the drink stay refreshing and fizzy.
Add the Bourbon and Bitters
Pour 60 ml / 2 oz bourbon over the ice. Add one dash of Angostura bitters, if you’re using them.
Top with Root Beer
Slowly pour in 150 ml / 5 oz chilled root beer so you don’t end up with foam everywhere. Give the drink one gentle stir. Add an orange peel if you like, and serve straight away. That’s all there is to it.
Party tip: Batch Version!
This is one of those cocktails that works really well for a party because there is almost nothing to prepare beforehand.
For 6 cocktails, you’ll need:
360 ml / 12 oz bourbon
900 ml / 30 oz chilled root beer
6 dashes Angostura bitters, optional
Plenty of ice
I wouldn’t mix everything together in a pitcher ahead of time. The root beer will gradually lose its fizz.
Instead, fill the glasses with ice, add the bourbon and bitters, and top each one with cold root beer just before serving.
You can also set out the bourbon, chilled root beer, ice, and glasses and build each drink as you go.
Easy.
👁️ Make it Creepy
This is where you can have some fun.
The cocktail itself is already very dark, so you don’t need food coloring or anything special in the glass to make it feel like Halloween. For my photos, I placed the finished drink inside a larger bowl filled with dry ice and built the scene around it.
Four enormous dragon eyes floated around the glass while a little pile of skulls sat in the background, slightly backlit so they almost seemed to glow through the spiderwebs.
Off to the side, I added a skull shot glass on a black dragon coaster with a ring around it.
Then the dry ice started smoking around everything.
Creepy?
Absolutely.
And I loved every second of it.
Dry Ice Safety
Note: The dry ice in my photos was only used in the separate outer bowl. It was never placed inside the cocktail.
Dry ice should be handled carefully with suitable gloves or tongs and kept away from bare skin. If you recreate the smoky effect, keep the dry ice separate from anything your guests will drink.
Tools you’ll need
Some of the equipment links below may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Tips & Tricks
- Keep everything cold. Cold root beer, a chilled glass, and plenty of ice help the drink stay crisp and hold onto its fizz for longer.
- Go slowly with the root beer. It can foam quickly when it hits the ice and bourbon. A gentle pour gives you much more control.
- One stir is enough. You only need to bring everything together. Too much stirring will knock out some of that lovely carbonation.
- Don’t worry about the bitters for a big party. I like what they add, but bourbon and root beer already work beautifully on their own. If you’ve got a room full of thirsty people, keep it simple.
More Halloween Recipes
Looking for more spooky treats and drinks? Browse my Halloween recipes for creepy cocktails, dark desserts, and fun party ideas that are made for spooky season.
Halloween Bourbon and Root Beer Cocktail
Ingredients
- Cubed ice
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1 dash Angostura bitters optional
- 5 oz A&W Root Beer well chilled
- Orange peel optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball or long drink glass generously with Cubed ice.Cubed ice
- Pour in 2 oz Bourbon.2 oz Bourbon
- Add 1 dash Angostura bitters, if using.1 dash Angostura bitters
- Slowly top with the 5 oz A&W Root Beer.5 oz A&W Root Beer
- Stir gently once to combine.
- Garnish with an Orange peel, if desired.Orange peel
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Pour the root beer slowly to keep the foam under control, and don’t over-stir if you want to preserve as much carbonation as possible.
The Angostura bitters and orange peel are both optional, so for an easy Halloween party drink, you can keep things as simple as bourbon, root beer, ice, and a glass.
Nutrition
⛑️ Food Safety
- Use clean ice and clean glassware.
- Keep the root beer chilled until you’re ready to make the cocktail.
- Serve the drink immediately after mixing for the best carbonation.
- Keep dry ice completely separate from the drink.
- Handle dry ice only with insulated gloves or tongs.
- Never touch dry ice with bare skin.
- Use dry ice only in a well-ventilated area.
- Never serve a drink while solid pieces of dry ice are still present.
For further information, check Safe Food Handling – FDA.
This Bourbon and Root Beer came together so easily and had a delicious balance of sweet, fizzy, and bold flavors. It was such a fun drink to serve!
Thank you, Amy! Glad you liked it! 🙂
Awesome, I was looking for a new cocktail for Halloween and this is the perfect answer. I love how simple it is!
Thank you, Teresa!
This was a great drink to serve at my “witches brew” party where we all exchanged fun Halloween themed mugs or cups. Guests really liked this one.