Name: Best Bourbon Slush Recipe (No Concentrates)
Prep time: 495 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 500 min
Ingredients: ½ cup water (236 mL); 1 bag black tea (single-serving size); ½ cup sugar (100 g); 2 cups orange juice (472 mL); 3 cups lemonade* (708 mL); 1 cup bourbon (236 mL)

This Bourbon Slush Recipe comes together in minutes. Mix, freeze, and forget! Perfect for keeping on hand in case of impromptu parties and get togethers.

Bourbon slush in a glass with a spoon on a red background

Growing up in Alaska meant we did a lot of things…differently. Plugging the car in overnight to prevent it from freezing. Putting boots and a jacket on our dog for each walk. And using our back porch as a walk-in freezer.

And the one thing that you could always count on to be stocked in our Alaska-style walk-in freezer? A big batch of this bourbon slush recipe. My parents would find any occasion to break out the bourbon slush, and as a kid, I never quite understood what all the fuss was about.

But now that I’m older and have tried this stuff…I understand what the fuss is about. All the fuss.

The bourbon slush recipe my parents used to make involved a lot of frozen cans of concentrated juices, which are all but impossible to come by here in the Netherlands. Which is sort of okay, because why drink juice from a frozen can when you can have it fresh and tasty?

Bourbon slush in a glass with a straw on a red background

Here’s what you need to make the best bourbon slush

This recipe requires just 6 ingredients to complete, and that includes the water! We’ll use a rich and flavorful black tea (your preferred brand is fine), along with orange juice and lemonade for extra fruity flavor.

I bet you didn’t expect to be using juices in this recipe, did you? Well, they’re a must! The combination of the orange and lemony flavors completes this recipe and makes it perfect for enjoying on warm summer days (or cold nights in Alaska!).

Water: This recipe begins by steeping tea, which calls for water! We will use ½ cup for this recipe.
Black Tea: 1 single-serving size bag of black tea will be used in this bourbon slush.
Sugar: To add a dash of sweetness, we’ll use ½ cup of sugar.
Orange Juice: 2 cups of orange juice helps to add flavor and tanginess.
Lemonade: We’ll also add 3 cups of lemonade to add a bit of zest.
Bourbon: You can’t have bourbon slush without the bourbon! You’ll need 1 cup of your favorite brand.

Jim Beam bourbon, tea bag, lemon, and orange on red background

How to make bourbon slush

To make this homemade bourbon slush recipe you’ll basically just dissolve sugar in hot black tea, allowing the tea to steep and sugar to dissolve. Then simply mix everything together, throw into a large pan or freezer-safe Ziploc bag, and forget about it!

The bourbon will prevent the mixture from freezing solid, keeping it a perfect slushy texture until you’re ready to indulge.

Step 1: Steep the tea
Heat the water to boiling, and then remove from the heat and add the sachet of tea. Allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes, and then remove. If the water has evaporated, add hot water to reach ½ cup again. Add the sugar and continue stirring until it’s fully dissolved.

Step 2: Stir the mix
Add the orange juice, lemonade, and bourbon, stirring to incorporate everything.

Pouring bourbon slush ingredients into a baking pan to freeze

Step 3: Freeze
Pour the mix into a large container or a few large freezer bags. Freeze for at least 8 hours, or until the mix becomes slushy.

Scraping bourbon slush with a fork to make slushy

Step 4: Serve
To serve, rake the slush with a fork and scoop it into serving glasses. Serve with a spoon and/or straw.

Recipe variations and tips

Bourbon vs. Whiskey
What’s the difference? There is none! Bourbon is actually just whiskey that’s made in the USA from a distilled corn process. It is, however, much different than Scottish whisky (without the “e”), which is made from malted barley. Fun fact: Scottish whisky is what we know as “Scotch!”

A fruity twist
Not feeling the OJ? That’s okay! Though I’ve only had this slush with the signature orange juice and lemonade combo, you can easily swap different flavors into the mix. Fruity flavors usually work for one another quite well, so you could try using strawberry, mango, or even pineapple in place of the orange juice.

Storing bourbon slush
Whip a batch together, toss it in the freezer to form the slush consistency, and just pull it out when you want it! Place any leftovers back in the freezer to save.

More Fruity Cocktails to Enjoy

Need some more fancy beverage ideas? Treat yo’self with one of these fruit flavors! The Strawberry Limeade Slush is always a hit with my friends.