- June 21, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
As I sit here writing this, I’m simultaneously sipping a cocktail, brainstorming puns and preparing for my second Father’s Day without my dad. (Don’t worry, this isn’t going to get too sappy.)
I don’t need the holiday reminders; I’ll always find an excuse to honor my dad. His drink of choice? Jack Daniel's on the rocks.
Would he change it up to celebrate National Bourbon Day on June 14? I can’t say for sure his whiskey-loving self would go for these trendy bourbon cocktails I’m about to share. I do know that he’d raise a glass just to brag to anyone within earshot, “My kid dedicated this column to me — drink her recommendations.”
So whether you're celebrating Father's Day, remembering Dad or somewhere in between, let’s raise a bourbon toast to the ones we love, the ones we miss and the ones who gave us the good taste to order the second round ... on the rocks.
1561 Lakefront Drive, Unit 102, Sarasota; 941-259-1787; goodliquid.com/distillery-and-cocktail-lounge
Talk Bourbon to Me: Located in Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, this new lounge's house Bourbon Whiskey ($50, per bottle) is a classy 88-proof blend of 7-year-old Kentucky bourbon barrels handpicked and blended to near perfection. Think sweet vanilla vibes, a hint of aged oak and a finish so smooth it could charm your in-laws (though not mine because they don't drink). Whether you're a neat purist or just bourbon-curious, this bottle is a solid flex on your bar cart.
Totally Buzz-worthy: Just when you thought you were out, the Godfather ($16) pulls you back in ... with bourbon. This $16 boss of a cocktail at The Lounge mixes GLD Bourbon Whiskey with maple syrup, lemon juice, muddled basil and a splash of soda water for fizz. It’s sweet, it’s herby and it’s got just enough edge to make you feel like you’re in a smoky back room making deals. One sip and you'll be saying, “Leave the cannoli, bring me another round.”
2250 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota; 941-952-3039; brinesarasota.com
Talk Bourbon to Me: With 68 bourbons and whiskeys (and even more globe-trotting pours), Brine is basically a whiskey wonderland, but the cornbread old fashioned ($15) is the golden child of the cocktail menu. Infused with actual cornbread (yes, you read that right), Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon gets a sweet Southern twist, stirred with chocolate bitters and a kiss of orange. It’s comforting, rich and just rebellious enough to count as dessert and a drink — name a better duo. Come for the whiskey list, stay for the cornbread-flavored booze.
Totally Buzz-worthy: After hours of champagne toasts and old fashioned clinks at our wedding, I thought we were all riding the perfect buzz into the afterparty. So imagine my surprise when I walked in and half our guests were sipping espresso martinis. Had I known Brine was slinging a coffee old fashioned ($15) made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, coffee liqueur, espresso and orange bitter, I would’ve redirected the whole afterparty there. Like our wedding guests, this drink's motto should be, “I came to party, but make it classy.”
1435 Second St., Sarasota; 941-253-0978; circosrq.com
Talk Bourbon to Me: If smoky, sultry and slightly sweet define your love language, then Circo’s smoked bourbon old fashioned ($12) is your soulmate in a glass. Made with Buffalo Trace and just the right balance of sweet and bitters, this cocktail rolls in with more drama than a reality show reunion. (Trust me, I worked for Jerry Springer.) After one (or let's be real, two or three), you’ll be whispering, “smoke show" to both the drink and yourself. Don't forget to snack while sipping, foodies. My choice? The chips and elote corn salsa ($9).
Totally Buzz-worthy: Stop by on National Bourbon Day and sip your way through bold bourbon pours, creative cocktails and crave-worthy taco pairings all day long. And if one day isn’t enough (it never is), get your tickets for the bourbon dinner with Elijah Craig on June 19 for premium bourbon tastings, more inventive taco pairings and a little bourbon education too. Seats fill fast, so snag your tickets now to sit with your crew.
