Bourbon is a classic American whiskey that is beloved for its sweet, smokey, and oaky flavors. Cream soda is a sweet, carbonated soft drink that often has flavors like vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon. With the sweetness and vanilla notes that these two drinks share, it may seem like cream soda could pair well with bourbon. But does the combination actually work? Let’s take a closer look at whether or not cream soda goes with bourbon.
The flavors of bourbon and cream soda
First, let’s examine the flavor profiles of bourbon and cream soda on their own before seeing how they may interact when combined.
Bourbon flavor profile
Bourbon gets its signature sweet, smoky, and oaky taste from its production process. By U.S. law, bourbon must be made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn. The corn provides bourbon’s signature sweetness. It is then aged in new, charred oak barrels for at least 2 years, which impart smoky and oaky notes from the wood. Common tasting notes in bourbon include:
- Sweetcorn
- Vanilla
- Caramel
- Honey
- Spice
- Smoke
- Oak
Cream soda flavor profile
Cream soda gets its name from its creamy, smooth mouthfeel and sweet flavor. Traditional cream sodas are made by blending carbonated water with sugar and vanilla or other flavorings like caramel, almond, chocolate or cinnamon. Common tasting notes in cream soda include:
- Sweet
- Smooth
- Vanilla
- Caramel
- Creamy
- Fizzy
Comparing the flavors
Looking at the common flavor notes, there is definitely some overlap between bourbon and cream soda. Specifically, they both tend to have sweet, vanilla, and caramel notes. So it would seem that the sweetness and vanilla from the cream soda could complement similar flavors from the bourbon.
However, while they share some tasting notes, bourbon and cream soda differ quite a bit in other areas. Bourbon has strong wood, smoke, spice, and oak elements that lend it complexity. Meanwhile, cream soda is defined predominantly by sweet, creamy flavors. So while cream soda has some flavors that match up with bourbon, it lacks the depth and range that bourbon possesses.
How do they taste together?
So how do bourbon and cream soda actually taste when mixed together? Here are some common observations:
- The cream soda amplifies the sweetness of the bourbon, making the drink very sugary.
- The carbonation and creamy texture of the cream soda feels out of place with the strong spirit of the bourbon.
- The bourbon overwhelms more delicate cream soda flavors like vanilla and caramel.
- The oak and smoke of the bourbon clash with the pure sweetness of cream soda.
While the vanilla in cream soda initially seems like it may pair nicely with the vanilla notes in bourbon, in practice the sweet cream soda tends to overpower the more complex flavors of bourbon. The bourbon conversely covers up the subtle flavor layers in cream soda, leaving mostly just sweetness.
Cream soda bourbon cocktail recipes
Some popular cream soda bourbon cocktails include:
- Bourbon Float: Bourbon and cream soda poured over vanilla ice cream
- Boston Cream Pie: Bourbon, cream soda, chocolate syrup
- Bourbon Cream: Bourbon, cream soda, chocolate bitters
While recipes like these accentuate the sweet flavors shared by bourbon and cream soda, they still lack balance. The cream soda is cloyingly sweet, while the bourbon seems one-dimensional without its smoky, woody notes coming through.
Professional opinions
Professional bartenders and spirits experts tend to advise against mixing cream soda and bourbon straight. Here are some of their thoughts:
“The heavy sweetness of cream soda really overpowers the nuanced flavor of quality bourbon. You lose all the oak, spice and char notes that make bourbon special.” – Jamie S., bourbon expert
“I tried making a cocktail with bourbon and cream soda. It was just too sweet and one-note. The carbonation also made the bourbon fizz taste flat.” – Elaine R., cocktail bartender
“Bourbon and cream soda both have a vanilla flavor, so you would think they go together. But the vanilla in bourbon is more woody and complex, while cream soda’s vanilla is sugary sweet. Together they just taste fake and candylike.” – Michael W., spirits educator
The experts recommend enjoying bourbon and cream soda separately to better appreciate their flavors. If mixing them, additional ingredients are needed to balance out the sweetness.
How to make it work
Bourbon and cream soda can be combined successfully, but the key is balancing out the sweetness and finding ingredients that bridge their flavors.
Add tart, sour, or bitter flavors
Including tart, sour, or bitter components helps tone down the sugary sweetness of cream soda and allows the bourbon’s flavors to still shine.
- Squeeze of lime juice
- Dash of cranberry juice
- Splash of tonic water
- Dash of Angostura bitters
Accent the oak and vanilla
Boosting the oaky and vanilla flavors shared by bourbon and cream soda helps them better complement each other.
- Dash of vanilla extract
- Float a bourbon-soaked oak infusion
- Splash of barrel-aged syrup
Bridge the flavors
Ingredients like coconut and almond extract help bridge the gap between bourbon and cream soda’s flavors.
- Dash of coconut extract
- Splash of almond syrup
- Toasted coconut shavings
Sample bourbon cream soda cocktail
Here is an example bourbon and cream soda cocktail with balanced flavors:
Bourbon Vanilla Cream
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3 oz cream soda
- 1 oz vanilla syrup
- Squeeze of lime juice
- Splash of coconut milk
- Dash of Angostura bitters
- Bourbon-soaked oak infusion
The vanilla and coconut help accent the shared flavors between bourbon and cream soda, while the lime juice and bitters help cut the sweetness. This makes for a more balanced, harmonious drink.
The bottom line
While bourbon and cream soda may seem like a good flavor pairing at first glance, the combination tends to be overly sweet and imbalanced when mixed straight together. However, with the right proportions and complementary ingredients, the vanilla and oak notes of bourbon can harmonize with the sweet creaminess of cream soda. So don’t write off the pairing completely – just be sure to give the drinks room to shine through thoughtful mixing.