Plum Black Tea Bourbon Cooler
Bourbon, chilled black tea, and plum preserves make a tart, fizzy cooler with a little ginger heat.
Prep: 10 · Cook: 5 · Total: 15 · Serves: 2 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (84 reviews)
INSPIRED BY
This is an original highball built around the dry lift of black tea and the jammy depth of ripe plum.
Story
Theo calls this the drink for the first mile of a summer road trip, before the map gets folded and the playlist gets loud. Plum gives bourbon a dark fruit note, black tea keeps it from going syrupy, and ginger adds a quick spark. The soda makes it tall and easy to sip. Build two, find a patch of shade, and let the afternoon take the scenic route.
By Theo
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup strongly brewed black tea, chilled
- 2 tablespoons plum preserves
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 1/2 cup club soda, chilled
- 2 thin slices fresh ginger
- Ice and plum wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Stir the chilled black tea, plum preserves, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a shaker until the preserves loosen.
- Add the bourbon and ginger slices, then fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 10 seconds so the plum blends into the tea and bourbon.
- Fill two tall glasses with fresh ice and strain the drink evenly between them.
- Top each glass with club soda and give it one gentle stir from the bottom up.
- Garnish with a plum wedge and a thin ginger slice, then serve immediately.
Chef Tips
- Use a strongly brewed tea so the flavor stays present after the ice and soda go in.
- If the preserves are very chunky, strain through a fine mesh strainer before serving.
- For a lower-proof drink, use 3 ounces bourbon and add more soda.
- Make the tea base up to one day ahead and keep it chilled.
Cook's Notes
- **Tea:** Brew the tea twice as strong as you would for sipping because ice will dilute it.
- **Preserves:** Stir them into the tea first so the shaker does not have to do all the work.
- **Bubbles:** Add club soda after straining to protect the fizz.
- **Batching:** Multiply the tea base and bourbon, then add soda to each glass separately.