Good Luck Charm Cocktail

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 12/3/21
Bobby "G" Gleason's Good Luck Charm Cocktail
Martin Poole / Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

There is nothing like a good luck charm to celebrate spring and this appropriately named cocktail is just what the season calls for. The bourbon, lemon, and spearmint drink is great for St. Patrick's Day and could even be fun for a party on Friday the 13th, no matter the season.

Bobby "G" Gleason created the drink recipe for Jim Beam Bourbon. The whiskey gets a brilliant splash of flavor from two lemon ingredients and fresh spearmint. The herb is intentionally left in the drink as little bursts of flavor that could be seen as good luck.

Ingredients

  • Sugar, for optional rim

  • 1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey

  • 3/4 ounce limoncello

  • 2 ounces fresh lemon sour

  • 5 to 6 spearmint leaves, torn

  • Lemon wheel, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. If desired, rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar: Wipe a piece of lemon around the rim to wet it, then roll it in a shallow dish of white sugar to get an even coat.

  3. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the bourbon, limoncello, lemon sour, and torn spearmint leaves. Shake well.

  4. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass.

  5. Garnish with a lemon wheel. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Spearmint is the preferred variety of mint. It is most likely the one labeled "mint" that you'll find at the grocery store. Nearly any other option will do just fine, though peppermint is known to be stronger. Use just a couple of leaves if that's your only option.
  • There are many limoncellos available and they should be relatively easy to find at the liquor store.
  • For the fresh lemon sour, use the recipe for sour mix and make it with lemon juice only. It's simple to make and is, essentially, just a citrus-flavored syrup. The fastest way to make it is to simply combine equal parts of lemon juice and simple syrup.
  • If you can, avoid bottled sour mixes. Not only do they typically contain a blend of citrus flavors that will throw off this drink, but they're often also artificially flavored. Besides, making your own sour mix can cost less than a dollar so you'll save money while improving your cocktails.

How Strong Is a Good Luck Charm?

It can be easy to think that whiskey always creates strong drinks because the spirit's reputation can give that impression. Surprisingly, this bourbon cocktail is lighter than most vodka martinis, including the famous lemon drop martini which has a similar taste profile. And yet, it is still not the lightest drink you can mix up. Its alcohol content should fall somewhere around 17 percent ABV (34 proof). You can think of it as slightly stronger than a glass of wine when gauging whether or not to mix up another round.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
438 Calories
2g Fat
91g Carbs
8g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 438
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 18mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 91g 33%
Dietary Fiber 19g 68%
Total Sugars 44g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 364mg 1,820%
Calcium 181mg 14%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 962mg 20%
*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.)