9 Fruit Juices You Should Be Pairing With Bourbon

Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is unique to the United States, though there are differences between the two, and a whiskey must follow certain guidelines in order to be called bourbon. The American style of whiskey is most often associated with the state of Kentucky, but it can be made anywhere in the U.S. and still be considered bourbon. By law, at least 51% of the grains that go into making bourbon must be corn. Other ingredients typically include rye and wheat, which give the spirit spicy notes and nuttiness, respectively. Aging in charred oak barrels also gives the tipple its characteristic smoky aroma.

Besides these flavors, bourbons are typically characterized by warm vanilla, tonka bean, and caramel notes, some woodiness reminiscent of smoldering palo santo or piñon wood, and subtler aromas of dried plums and dates. Beneath it all is a very slight savoriness, which is why you sometimes find this spirit incorporated into dishes like barbecue or gravies. Nevertheless, different palates will pick up on different flavors, and every bourbon has its own unique qualities, especially small batch bourbons.

Because it's so nuanced, it can often be complicated to find a good fruit juice to pair with bourbon. Unlike clear spirits, such as vodka, you can't just squeeze a pouch of Capri Sun over it, or you may ruin this artisanal product. That's why we've rounded up several fruit juices that you should pair with bourbon, including some common options along with some more unexpected choices. Just keep in mind that you don't need to spend a lot of money on bourbon to make a great cocktail with these picks, and there are some cheap bourbons that taste expensive.

Since pears go famously well with caramel, vanilla, and spices, pear juice is a natural choice for complementing those tasting notes in bourbon. It's typically less acidic than apple juice and goes well with many other fruits, too, even tropical ones, making it an ideal choice for a punch with a Kentucky kick. Try making a cocktail featuring this juice, some maple syrup, and a dash of Chinese five-spice powder for a refreshing fall cocktail.

Pressed cider differs from apple juice in that the latter is filtered, while the former often retains more nuanced apple flavor. Its slight acidity can brighten the smoky, woody notes of bourbon without going into sour cocktail territory. And the fact that it's unfiltered means that you get a rich, almost creamy mouthfeel that softens the booze's spiciness. Many supermarkets stock this seasonal specialty around the fall months.

The mellow, deep sweetness of fresh cherries grows even more concentrated in juice, complementing the rich notes of a fine bourbon. Cherry pits contain kernels used to make mahlab, an ingredient in Middle Eastern pastries, and these have some marzipan notes, making bourbon a natural pairing with its nutty undertones. If you want something with a bit more acidity, especially if you're making a long drink (not the Finnish kind) that you'll dilute with soda, opt for sour cherry juice.

You may think of pineapple juice as being rum's monogamous partner, but if you've ever had this tropical fruit with an aged rum or tequila, then you can see how it can pair beautifully with bourbon. The fruit has a complex collection of aromas, and each one can feel like opening up a blind box of delicious flavors. You can opt for a very ripe fruit to capitalize on its sweetness and highlight bourbon's natural sweetness, or you can choose a less mature one to take advantage of its tart flavors.

Even though they're mostly used in savory preparations, tomatoes are fruits, and while their juice usually finds its way into a neutral alcohol, like vodka, bourbon may actually be a better pairing. Buried beneath its more dessert-like notes, this liquor has a few savory undertones that tomatoes can highlight, giving you a different flavor experience. As well, bourbon's spicy and woody aromas can also be enhanced by this not-so-sweet fruit's juices. Try substituting bourbon for vodka in your next spicy bloody mary, and you may never look back.

Some experienced bartenders may get away with adding a generous amount of tart citrus to a bourbon-forward cocktail, but more than just a drizzle of lemon or lime juice can overpower this nuanced liquor with its acidity and make it taste like nothing more than alcohol. Grapefruit's milder acidity and bittersweet flavors are a much better choice and mirror similar flavors found in a good bourbon. A little goes a long way, though, and you may want to counter its bold aromas with some simple syrup.

Acidity can be a great flavor enhancement for some types of liquor, but it can also kill the subtle flavors of something more complex, like bourbon. If you love the flavor of peaches, you may want to opt for their mellower relative, the apricot. It's not as tart as its larger cousin, meaning you can add more to your Kentucky tipple without masking all of its aromas. Try combining the two with a dash of vanilla-flavored syrup. The juice may be difficult to source, but nectars, which contain varying percentages of juice, are a lot more common and much more affordable.

Blueberries may need a little bit of lemon to really shine in desserts, but the fact that they're not so zingy on their own makes their juice an ideal companion to bourbon. Besides bringing out the more subtle fruity aromas in the booze, their mellow flavor pairs phenomenally well with bourbon's signature caramel notes, and the nutty undertones of bourbon combined with this fruit's juices can remind you of a bowl of granola. Try both in a nut milk punch for added effect.

Pomegranate elegantly straddles tart and mellow, and its juice has a deep garnet color that won't diminish once it meets an amber-hued bourbon. All of these properties make it a lovely match for this American original. Pomegranate juice's tartness isn't as forward as that found in citrus, so it subtly uplifts bourbon's fruity flavors that can typically be overshadowed by the spirit's smoky and spicy qualities, and its mellowness can also bring out some hidden savory notes. For a deeper flavor and more prominent caramel color, you can also opt for pomegranate molasses.