Liquid Bourbon Ball

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/13/21
Liquid Bourbon Ball cocktail in a glass

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The liquid bourbon ball is a perfect dessert drink for whiskey lovers. It is not the typical chocolate cocktail filled with super sweet or creamy ingredients, either. Instead, it has a drier, very smooth taste with just enough sweetness to make it slightly indulgent.

The recipe comes from "The Woodford Reserve Culinary Cocktail Tour," a food and cocktail book published by the distillery. It's one of the many modern cocktails that put a spin on classic style. In fact, with its sophisticated approach, you might even think of it as a chocolate Manhattan. The chocolate and hazelnut liqueurs are great flavor pairings for a complex bourbon, creating an utterly delicious drink you will not forget anytime soon.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon whiskey

  • 1 ounce white crème de cacao liqueur

  • 1/4 ounce hazelnut liqueur

  • Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Liquid Bourbon Ball cocktail ingredients in glasses and bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Pour the bourbon and liqueurs over ice in a mixing glass.

    Bourbon and liqueurs with ice in a mixing glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Stir well.

    bourbon whiskey, white crème de cacao liqueur and hazelnut liqueur with ice in a mixing glass with a spoon

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Liquid Bourbon Ball strained into a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with chocolate shavings. Serve and enjoy.

    Liquid Bourbon Ball in a glass, garnished with chocolate shavings

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • The recipe calls for white crème de cacao, though you can certainly use the dark version. The cocktail's color will change ever so slightly, but the difference in taste will be nearly indistinguishable.
  • To make chocolate shavings, you can simply use a chocolate candy bar and a vegetable peeler. Make sure the chocolate is at room temperature, then run your peeler along one of the edges to get thin curls of chocolate.

Recipe Variations

  • This is an enjoyable cocktail with almost any bourbon. The key is to find one that's full-flavored but not overly bold.
  • There are options for chocolate liqueurs as well, though they're all going to be slightly different than crème de cacao. Primarily, you'll find bottles that tend to be creamier, and your liquid bourbon ball will reflect that difference.
  • As an alternative to hazelnut, use amaretto instead. You'll be switching from a hint of hazelnut to one of almond and it creates an equally delicious cocktail.

How Strong Is a Liquid Bourbon Ball?

The liquid bourbon ball is a delicious cocktail, but its alluring taste is also quite deceptive. It's a pretty strong drink, which should be obvious given the fact that it's made entirely of liquor. You can expect this one to have an alcohol content around 27 percent ABV (54 proof). It's average for cocktails of this style.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
267 Calories
2g Fat
18g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 267
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 17g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 30mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)