Best Bourbon Mixers: Ginger Beer, Soda and Cocktail Mixes for 2026
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Compare the best bourbon mixers for highballs and old fashioneds, with advice on sweetness, fizz, pack size and easy recipes.
Bourbon already carries vanilla, caramel and oak, so a mixer should lift those notes rather than bury them. The best bourbon mixers are the ones that suit the drink you actually make: a ginger beer highball, a soda and bourbon on a hot day, or an old fashioned built from a ready-made mix. The product table above groups the main styles, and this guide explains how to choose between them.
Mixers are cheap compared with the bottle, but a poor pairing can waste a good pour. Sweetness, carbonation and bite matter more than the label, so each section below focuses on what the mixer does in the glass.
Types of Bourbon Mixers Compared
Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale
Ginger beer is the classic partner for bourbon. Its sharp spice and strong fizz stand up to the spirit, which is why it anchors drinks such as the Kentucky mule. Ginger ale is milder and sweeter, so it suits people who want a gentler highball. Check the ingredient list: ginger beers brewed with real ginger taste drier and spicier than those flavored with extract. A 3 to 1 mixer to bourbon ratio is a sensible start.
Club Soda and Sparkling Water
Soda water adds fizz and length without sugar, so the bourbon stays center stage. It suits warm weather and anyone who wants to cut calories. Pair it with a lemon twist or a dash of bitters for a bourbon highball that tastes dry and clean.
Cola and Sweet Sodas
Cola is a familiar match because caramel and vanilla notes meet halfway. It is sweeter than most bourbon fans prefer, so use a smaller pour of mixer and plenty of ice. Craft colas with less sugar and real spices give a more grown-up result.
Old Fashioned Mixes and Syrups
Ready-made old fashioned mixes combine sweetener, bitters and citrus in one bottle, so you only add bourbon and ice. They are the fastest route to a good stirred drink and a reliable option for gifts. Look for mixes made with real bitters and cane sugar rather than flavorings, and check how many cocktails each bottle makes.
Bitters, Citrus and Simple Syrup
For a short drink, you need very little. A few dashes of aromatic bitters, a strip of orange peel and a teaspoon of simple syrup turn bourbon into an old fashioned. These ingredients last a long time, so they are worth keeping in the cupboard.
Key Features of the Best Bourbon Mixers
- Sweetness: Sugary mixers hide bourbon. Look for lower-sugar or lightly sweetened options if you want the spirit to show.
- Carbonation: Smaller bottles and cans stay livelier. Large bottles go flat within a few days of opening.
- Ingredients: Real ginger, cane sugar and natural citrus taste cleaner than artificial flavors.
- Pack size: Single-serve cans avoid waste if you only make an occasional drink, while larger packs lower the cost per drink.
- Diet options: Sugar-free ginger beers and sodas exist, but sweeteners change the aftertaste, so try a small pack first.
Matching Bourbon Mixers to the Drink
Long Drinks on Ice
For a tall highball, use ginger beer or soda water with a wedge of lemon or lime. Fill the glass with ice, add about two ounces of bourbon, and top with the mixer, pouring down a spoon to keep the fizz.
Short Stirred Drinks
An old fashioned needs a mix or a syrup, bitters and a large ice cube. Stir for about 30 seconds so the drink chills and dilutes slightly. If you plan to serve this at home often, our guide to the best bourbon decanters covers display and pouring.
Cocktails for a Crowd
Ginger beer works well for parties because it is easy to scale. Set out a bucket of ice, a bottle of bourbon, several mixers and some garnishes, and let guests build their own.
Three Easy Recipes to Start With
Bourbon Ginger Highball
Fill a tall glass with ice, add two ounces of bourbon, top with ginger beer and squeeze in a lime wedge. This is the simplest way to judge a ginger beer, because nothing else competes with it.
Bourbon and Soda
Pour two ounces of bourbon over ice, add four ounces of chilled club soda and finish with a lemon twist. It is light, dry and easy to repeat.
Quick Old Fashioned
Add about one ounce of old fashioned mix and two ounces of bourbon to a glass with one large ice cube, stir for half a minute and express an orange peel over the top. Follow the bottle's own ratio, since strength varies between brands.
What Different Budgets Buy
Basic ginger beers and sodas cost only a few dollars a bottle or about a dollar per can in multipacks. Craft ginger beers and ready-made old fashioned mixes cost more, often $20 to $45 for a bottle that makes dozens of drinks, which works out to less than a coffee-shop drink each. Spend more on the mixer you use most, and keep the rest simple.
Setup, Serving and Storage
Chill mixers before use, since a warm mixer melts ice fast and dulls the flavor. Use fresh, solid ice cubes, which dilute more slowly than crushed ice. Once opened, seal ginger beer and soda tightly, refrigerate them, and use them within a few days for the best fizz. Keep bitters in a cool, dark cupboard.
Alcohol is for adults of legal drinking age. Drink responsibly, never drive after drinking, and keep bottles out of reach of children. If you take medication or have a health condition, ask your doctor about alcohol.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Pouring too much sweet mixer, which hides the bourbon.
- Using warm or flat mixer, which makes the drink dull.
- Buying large bottles when you only make one or two drinks a month.
- Using crushed ice for a drink meant to be sipped slowly.
- Skipping the garnish: a lemon twist or orange peel adds aroma for almost no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular mixer for bourbon?
Ginger beer is the most common choice, followed by cola and soda water. Ginger beer's spice complements the sweetness of bourbon without covering it.
Is ginger ale or ginger beer better with bourbon?
Ginger beer has a stronger ginger bite and suits bold bourbons. Ginger ale is lighter and sweeter, which works better with smooth, wheated bottles or for people who like a mild drink.
Can I mix good bourbon, or should I save it for sipping?
Mid-priced bourbon is ideal for mixing. Very rare or expensive bottles are often better sipped neat, since the mixer hides their nuances.
How long do opened mixers keep their fizz?
Small bottles and cans are best finished the same day. Larger bottles can stay lively for two to three days if sealed tightly and kept cold.
Are there low-sugar mixers for bourbon?
Yes. Club soda, sparkling water and sugar-free ginger beers have little or no sugar. Adding bitters and citrus gives flavor without sweetness.
Final Thoughts
Pick the mixer by the drink: ginger beer for highballs, soda for a dry serve, a ready-made mix for old fashioneds. Check sweetness and fizz, and buy a small pack before committing to a case. With the best bourbon mixers matched to the way you drink, the bourbon stays at the center of the glass. For other drink ideas, see our guide to the best mixers for bourbon whiskey and the wider best drink mixers roundup.
