A Few of Our House Cocktails
While we believe our products can certainly stand on their own, they can also be used to make an exceptional mixed drink. Here are some house recipes you can make at home with Craftsman spirits. Of course, you can always stop in and we’ll mix a drink for you!
If you can't find your favorite River Bend Distillery cocktail here, it could be a proprietary recipe. We work hard to make our tasty cocktails, so we keep some secrets to ourselves. Keep an eye on our Facebook page to check for your favorite seasonal drinks!
Note: All recipes should start with a short/tall glass as pictured filled with ice.
Bourbon Whiskey Old Fashioned
This classic has been around almost as long as Bourbon. Our favorite recipe is the traditional one, made with whiskey instead of brandy, which is often found in the Wisconsin version.
2 ounces Craftsman Bourbon Whiskey
Muddled Orange Slice and Cherry
0.5 ounce Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio sugar and water)
3 dashes Bitters
Mix/stir combined ingredients
(Optional) Top with 7up for an “Old Fashioned Sweet”
Garnish: Orange slice and cherry
River Bend Breeze
This is the most popular cocktail in our distillery tasting room. It's a great tropical drink you can enjoy without having to travel to the Caribbean.
2 ounces Craftsman Vodka
3 ounces Pineapple Juice
3 ounces Orange Juice
Shake/stir to mix all ingredients
Garnish: Orange wheel
Craftsman Collins
This cocktail is well balanced with the sweetness of simple syrup and the zing of fresh lemon. If you enjoy a Tom Collins, you won’t go back once you've tried one with Craftsman Gin.
2 ounces Craftsman Gin
Half of a lemon, juiced
1 ounce Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio sugar and water)
Fill with Club Soda
Shake/stir to mix ingredients
Garnish: Lemon wheel and a cherry
Cold Brew Bourbon
Who says the Screwdriver or Bloody Mary are the only morning drinks? If you like iced coffee and Bourbon, you’ll love this combination.
2 ounces Craftsman Bourbon Whiskey
1 ounce real Maple Syrup
1 ounce Heavy Cream
3 ounces Cold Brew Coffee
Shake/stir to mix all ingredients
Garnish: None
Vodka Sunrise
This twist on a tequila sunrise is made with our premium Craftsman Vodka. Incredibly refreshing with a squeeze of lemon and fresh orange juice, this cocktail is great for Sunday brunch or a warm afternoon on the patio.
2 ounces Craftsman Vodka
Half of a lemon, juiced
1 ounce Grenadine
Fill with orange juice
Shake/stir to mix ingredients
Garnish: Slice of lemon, maraschino cherry
Grapefruit Gin & Tonic
The tried and true with a twist. This is a fresh take on a Gin & Tonic using Craftsman Gin and adding grapefruit simple syrup. We call it the GG&T, and it’s a perfect summer sipper.
2 ounces Craftsman Gin
2 ounces grapefruit simple syrup (1:1:1 ratio Owens Grapefruit & Lime, sugar, water)
Half of a lime, juiced
Fill with Tonic Water
Shake/stir to mix ingredients
Garnish: Slice of lime