Grumpy Old Man Drink Recipe
Bourbon's caramel and oak notes stand up to the spice in ginger beer instead of getting drowned out by it, while a splash of lime juice and a few dashes of bitters cut the sweetness and keep the drink from tasting one-note. Building it right in the glass over ice means no shaker, strainer, or cleanup.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 1
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 wheel lime wheel, for garnish
- 1 cup ice cubes
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 383
- Protein
- 0g
- Carbs
- 46g
- Fat
- 0g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
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Instructions
- 1Fill a rocks glass or copper mug with ice cubes.
- 2Pour the bourbon over the ice, then add the fresh lime juice.
- 3Top with the ginger beer, pouring slowly down the side of the glass to keep it from foaming over.
- 4Add the bitters directly on top, without stirring them in.
- 5Give the drink one or two gentle stirs with a bar spoon, just enough to combine the layers without knocking all the fizz out of the ginger beer.
- 6Garnish with a lime wheel and serve immediately.
Tips & variations
- Use a spicier ginger beer, like one with visible ginger fiber or a cayenne kick, if the drink tastes too mellow with a standard bourbon.
- Swap the bourbon for rye whiskey for a drier, more peppery version.
- A dried apple slice or a cinnamon stick garnish plays up the drink's fall-and-winter character if bourbon is already on the table.
- For a lower-proof version, cut the bourbon to 1 ounce and top with an extra ounce of ginger beer.
Storage & reheating
This drink is meant to be mixed and served immediately since it depends on fresh carbonation; it doesn't hold or store well once built. If prepping for a group, premix the bourbon, lime juice, and bitters in a pitcher ahead of time and add the ginger beer and ice only when pouring individual drinks.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- Chilling the ginger beer and glass ahead of time keeps the ice from melting fast and watering the drink down.
- A large single ice cube or sphere melts more slowly than several small cubes, which matters most if the drink will sit on a table for a while.
FAQ
What is a grumpy old man drink made of?
It's a bourbon-based highball built with ginger beer, fresh lime juice, and Angostura bitters, served over ice and garnished with a lime wheel.
Can I use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?
Ginger ale is lighter and less spicy, so the drink will taste sweeter and flatter; ginger beer's stronger ginger bite and heavier carbonation is what gives the drink its character.
Is this the same as a whiskey mule?
It's very close to one. The main difference is the bitters, which add a layer of clove and cinnamon-like spice that a standard whiskey mule leaves out.
What glass should this be served in?
A copper mug keeps it coldest longest, but a rocks glass filled with ice works just as well and is more common for a bourbon-forward drink.