Why Bourbon Is the New Champagne: Celebratory Cocktails with Soul

Laura Kuhn
May 28
2 min read

Pop the Cork? Nah. Pour the Bourbon.

Move over, bubbles—there’s a new star at the celebration, and it wears a charred oak crown. That’s right: bourbon has officially entered the party. Once reserved for leather chairs and late-night musings, bourbon is now crashing weddings, birthdays, and backyard soirées everywhere—and we’re here for it.

At Left Bank, we like our toasts warm, our cocktails bold, and our celebrations full of soul. Here’s why bourbon is stealing champagne’s thunder—and what to sip when you’re feeling festive.

🥂 1. Because Not Everyone Wants to Sip Foam

Sure, champagne fizzles, but bourbon lingers. It brings complexity, character, and that little slow-burn magic that makes you pause and say, “Yep. This moment matters.” While bubbly makes noise, bourbon makes an impression.

🎉 2. Bourbon Has Range—and Personality

Champagne is a one-trick pony (no shade, just facts). Bourbon? It’s a full symphony.

Want something light? Try a Gold Rush.
Want something bold? Go with a Boulevardier.
Feeling classy? Stir up a Manhattan.
Feeling real classy? Bourbon neat, darling.

Bourbon can be shaken, stirred, smashed, or served solo—and it still shows up like it owns the room.

🍊 3. Left Bank Bourbon = Liquid Celebration

Our Left Bank Bourbon has the depth to impress a whiskey nerd and the smoothness to charm your “I’m more of a wine person” friend. With notes of caramel, spice, and Southern charm, it’s the bottle you actually want to open when things get festive.

It doesn’t pop. It pours. And that’s the whole vibe.

🍸 4. Five Festive Bourbon Cocktails That Outshine Champagne

🎇 1. Bourbon French 75Swap gin for bourbon in this classic. Add lemon juice, simple syrup, and—okay, fine—a splash of sparkling wine for the nod.

🍯 2. Holiday Gold RushLeft Bank Bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh lemon juice. Elegant, easy, and way more memorable than “champagne and orange juice.”

🍒 3. Manhattan RoyaleBittersweet, boozy, and smooth. Stir with sweet vermouth and cherry garnish, and suddenly you're the coolest person at the party.

🧊 4. Kentucky Royale Left Bank + ginger beer + a squeeze of lime. It’s a Mule with a tuxedo on.

🍊 5. Bourbon Spritz (Yes, Really)Left Bank, Aperol, orange bitters, and soda water. Sparkly, bittersweet, and unexpectedly refreshing.

💬 5. Bourbon Toasts Better

You know what’s better than clinking a flute of bubbles? Clinking a rocks glass with a real pour. A bourbon toast isn’t about sparkle—it’s about sincerity. It’s the kind of “cheers” that comes with eye contact, maybe a story, and the feeling that something good just happened.

🥃 Final Sip: Let’s Raise a Glass (Not a Flute)

Bourbon doesn’t whisper. It sings—in jazz notes, smoky finishes, and big, bold flavor. So the next time life gives you something to celebrate, skip the bubbles and go for something with soul.

Pop culture? That’s champagne. Real culture? That’s bourbon. And Left Bank is bringing the soul to every toast. 🥃✨