Kombucha Whiskey Sour Cocktails

Introduce a new "skinny" cocktail to your rotation with these Kombucha Whiskey Sour Cocktails! They're ultra-low on sugar, but big on that summer cocktail refreshing flavor. Use your favorite flavors of kombucha or experiment with new ones to find your new go-to summer happy hour drink!


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An up-close shot of two bottles of health-ade kombucha: one bottle of ginger lemon an the other of pink lady apple

These Kombucha Whiskey Sours are...

  • Tangy
  • Refreshing
  • Light
  • Cooling
  • A healthier cocktail option
  • Versatile
  • Low in sugar
  • Egg-free
  • Made with 3 ingredients
  • Perfect for outdoor happy hours

These whiskey sours have been my favorite summer cocktail so far, and for good reason-- they're hydrating and refreshing but don't leave me with a weird hangover, thanks to their low sugar content.

A hand holding a mug of the kombucha whiskey sour

And let's face it-- the older I get, the more I worry about hangovers, but I promise you, I'd drink these suckers even if they did give me bad hangovers!

Cocktail ingredients:

The sweet & sour flavor of Kombucha makes our Whiskey Sour ingredient list quite short, low in sugar, and healthier for us:

Bourbon whiskey -- you don't need to buy an $80 bottle of whiskey for this recipe (unless if you want to!), but you'll want a decent quality bourbon. See my notes below for my favorite brands of bourbon at around $20-35 dollar/bottle.

Kombucha -- some brands are adding more sugar these days so take a look at your ingredient list. Look for under 7.5 grams of sugar per 8 ounces.

Lime -- when doesn't some citrus step a cocktail that extra notch?! Lime juice in this recipe brightens up all the flavors and pulls the drink together, adding that metaphorical cherry on top!

What is kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink made with tea, juice, sweetener, bacteria, and yeast. It's a effervescent drink with natural carbonation. Because of the fermentation, Kombucha has a tart finish, making it perfect for these whiskey sour cocktails!

I won't lie, though, some people don't prefer the flavor of kombucha, but try it out for yourself -- at the very least with some whiskey. 😉 I love how refreshing the drink is and also love the health benefits it provides!

What flavors of kombucha are best for this recipe?

You can use your favorite flavor of kombucha for this recipe, but here are some of my favorite flavors if you'd like a starting point or recommendation!

An overhead shot of two mugs of kombucha whiskey sours with raspberries and lime slices between them

What is the best type of whiskey for this recipe?

Yumm --- I always love chatting about Whiskey!

We'll want Bourbon whiskey for these cocktails! The slightly sweeter and woody flavor of Bourbon is just what we want for this drink.

My favorite bourbons are Old Elk (a Fort Collins distillery that distributes nationally!) and Maker's Mark. Bulleit bourbon is also pretty tasty in this cocktail.

How do you make Kombucha Whiskey Sours?

  1. Fill your glasses with ice.
  2. Pour in 1 to 1.5 parts bourbon whiskey.
  3. Pour in 2.5 to 3 parts of your kombucha of choice
  4. Squeeze in one lime wedge.
  5. Lightly stir your drink.
  6. Enjoy!

It's that simple... as all happy hour events and beverages should be. 🙂

Tools needed to make this recipe:

Thankfully, you don't need many tools to make these drinks! Here are all that I used:

If you want to make the fancy large whiskey ice cubes, you can also make them with this super neat large ice cube mold tray.

How to serve these refreshing drinks + a note about the mugs!

You can serve these drinks in whiskey tumblers, whiskey rocks glasses, or you can serve them (like I like to do) in Moscow mule mugs!

My favorite Moscow mule mugs are from Moscow Muled. Their mugs are handcrafted, well-made and sturdy, and are competitively priced. Just make sure to hand wash those mugs (it's worth it, I promise!) instead of throwing them in the dishwasher so you can enjoy their beauty for the years to come.

A side shot of two mugs of kombucha whiskey sourcs on a wooden platter with raspberries and limes beside them.

What to serve these cocktails with?

These cocktails are perfect on their own for happy hour, but they're also delicious with snacks and dinner. Here are some pairing recommendations:

An overhead shot of a mug of kombucha whiskey sours sitting by a striped towel. Beside the mug sits lime wedges and raspberries.

A few kombucha cocktail perfection tips:

Make your dream cocktail each time with these pro-tips!

  1. Use your favorite bourbon -- the flavor of bourbon will come through on this, so choose your best or favorite bourbon for the most delicious results. I personally love Old Elk or Maker's Mark for this cocktail!
  2. Don't shake your kombucha before pouring -- not only will the bottle likely erupt when you open it, but it will disturb the natural carbonation of the drink.
  3. Don't over mix the cocktail -- all of the ingredients mix together quite easily, so all we need is a few light stirs with a spoon!
  4. Don't shake the cocktail -- the kombucha is already carbonated so we don't need to shake it. Just gently stir the ingredients together with a spoon and you're set!
  5. Use a high-quality kombucha -- once again, all the ingredient flavors are going to be front and center in this drink, so don't skimp on a good kombucha. Most bottles are only $3-5 in stores (and even cheaper if you buy in bulk!) so they still shouldn't break the bank compared to the price of some other cocktail ingredients.

Save this Recipe for Later on Pinterest

A pinterest pin for kombucha whiskey sours.

Other favorite summer recipes & Kombucha Whiskey Sour pairings you might enjoy:

Looking for another Skinny Summer Cocktail? Check out my Pomegranate Sea Breeze Cocktail or Watermelon Mojito.

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Two large mugs of Kombucha whiskey sours on a wooden tray with a striped towel, lime wedges, and raspberries around them
5

Kombucha Whiskey Sour Cocktails

Chelsea Plummer | Mae's Menu

A 3-ingredient cocktail that's lower in sugar than the classic, these Kombucha Whiskey Sour Cocktails are refreshing, light, and 100% perfect for summer.

Choose your favorite kombucha flavors for this cocktail. I love ginger, apple, watermelon, and strawberry lemonade flavors to name a few!
For a stronger cocktail, do 1.5 parts bourbon and 2.5 parts kombucha; for a more mild cocktail, just do 1 part bourbon and 3 parts kombucha.
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 97 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 - 1.5 part bourbon whiskey
  • 2.5 - 3 parts kombucha flavor of your choice
  • Lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Fill your glass or mug with ice cubes.
  • Add the whiskey and kombucha and squeeze in one lime wedge. Lightly stir the drink with a spoon and serve cold!

Notes

1. Use a mug, whiskey tumbler, or whiskey rocks glass to serve these drinks.
2. My favorite brands of whiskey bourbon to use in these cocktails are Old Elk, Maker's Mark, and Builleit.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail with 1 ounce bourbon + 3 ounces kombuchaCalories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gSodium: 6mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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