Bourbon cream recipes are some of the most popular on our website, so if you’re looking for an alternative way to serve up your favorite dessert, then this article has got you covered.
What Is The Difference Between Bourbon And Whiskey?
The main differences between these two types of alcohols lie in their production process.
Whisky (or Scotch) is produced by distillation while bourbon is aged in charred new barrels.
Whiskey takes longer to produce than bourbon because it must be distilled twice before being bottled.
Bourbon is also more expensive due to its higher quality standards and it requires aging to mature properly.
As a result, bourbon tends to have a stronger taste than whisky.
If you want to learn more about the different types of spirits, check out our guide here!
Why do people prefer bourbon over other alcoholic beverages?
If you have ever tried both types of spirit, you will know that they are very different from each other.
Whiskey, or scotch, is typically light bodied, smooth, and sweet.
It can be served as either neat or mixed with ice cubes.
On the other hand, bourbon is generally heavier than whiskeys, which makes it much better suited for cocktails such as Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and Mint Juleps.
As a matter of fact, bourbon was originally known as “white dog” because the drinker needed to take several sips to get drunk.
What Is The Difference Between A Bourbon Cream And A Whiskey Cream?
Whiskey cream is often confused with bourbon cream because they sound very similar.
However, while both these desserts have a rich creamy texture, there are key differences in their flavor profiles as well as their ingredients.
While bourbon cream contains bourbon (a type of American whiskey), it doesn’t contain any spirits at all.
Whiskey cream does use spirits such as whiskey or scotch, but in addition to these ingredients, it also includes eggs and milk.
Both types of creams can be served warm or cold, but each one works best when paired with ice-cold water.
The reason behind this is that once heated, the fats found in the custard will separate from the other ingredients if left alone.
If you want to make bourbon cream without using actual bourbon, try substituting it with Irish whiskey instead.
You could even add a splash of Baileys Irish Cream into the mix, which would give you a delicious twist on this traditional treat.
What Is The Alcohol Content Of Bourbon Cream?
A simple bourbon cream recipe is very easy to make at home, but it can be a bit tricky when you want to get the right amount of booze in there without adding too much sugar or using too much cream.
The answer here comes down to two factors – how strong your bourbon is and what type of cream you use.
In general, we recommend starting off with one bottle of bourbon (40% ABV) per 750ml/25fl oz serving of cream.
If you have any leftover, keep it around for another batch.
When choosing which kind of cream to go with, the first thing to do is check out its alcohol content.
Some brands of whipping cream will say “heavy cream” on their labels, while others may just call them “whipping cream”.
Whichever name they use, both types of cream contain about 35-45% ABV, making them ideal for baking and cooking.
If you aren’t sure where to find these kinds of products, you should look into online retailers such as Amazon, Gourmet Garage, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods Market, Penzey Spices, etc., who all carry high quality ingredients, including heavy cream.
What Is The Best Bourbon Cream Recipe?
A lot of people think of bourbon as being synonymous with whiskey, but it can also be used in other drinks such as cocktails or desserts.
To understand why bourbon is so useful when making desserts, we need to first look at what makes the drink itself unique.
When we talk about bourbon, we generally mean American-style bourbon.
The main ingredients include corn, rye grains, barley, and wheat.
These grains produce the majority of the flavor found in the final product.
The process of distillation removes all of these unwanted elements from the grain, leaving behind only the essential oil.
Bourbon is produced using different methods depending on its region, which explains why there are many types of bourbon available today.
One common type is Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, which was originally created by Colonel William Larue Weller in 1830s. It is now one of the three major categories of American whiskies, alongside scotch and Irish whiskeys. There are also several single malts that use the same base ingredient.
Although bourbon is primarily known for its alcoholic properties, it is actually more commonly consumed as part of mixed drinks.
For example, mint juleps, which combine bourbon together with sugar, water, lime juice, and ice, are very popular throughout the United States.
You may even have seen them served up at weddings or parties.
If you want to learn how to mix a mint julep, then take a look at our guide here.
Another option would be to try out one of the many variations on the classic Manhattan cocktail.
If you’d like to find out more about this classic cocktail, check out our guide here.
Other ways to consume bourbon
There are plenty of other options available when it comes to consuming bourbon, including eating it.
For instance, you could eat it straight or add it to your cereal or oatmeal.
Another possibility is adding it to coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
When it comes to mixing cocktails, you might enjoy putting it into smoothies, milkshakes, and sauces.
How Do You Make A Bourbon Cream?
If you want to learn how to make a tasty bourbon cream, there are many great resources available online to help you out.
You may be more interested in learning about different types of bourbons or what exactly makes them unique, but we have gathered together everything you need to know below!
The History of Bourbon Creams
Bourbon creams were originally created by French chefs as part of their famous desserts menu.
The first recorded instance was in 1837 when Napoleon III ordered his chef to create a new dish using vanilla ice cream, caramelized bananas, and whipped cream.
However, it wasn’t until around 1880 that the term “bourbon cream” began appearing in American cookbooks.
A few years later, in 1889, another version appeared in Southern cuisine under the name of “crème mélangée.”
In America, the use of vanilla ice cream was replaced with milk and eggs, which gave the drink its distinctive creamy texture.
As time went on, other ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, fruit, honey, and even coffee were added into the mix.
All these additions helped to enhance the flavor profile of the beverage, making it one of the world’s most versatile drinks.
Making a Bourbon Cream Recipe at Home
- Add 1 cup (250 ml) whole milk to a saucepan over medium heat.
- When the milk starts to simmer, add 3 tablespoons (45 g/1.5 oz.) sugar, and stir constantly until it dissolves completely.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly before adding 2 cups (500 ml) heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ⅛ teaspoon salt.
- Using an electric hand mixer or stand blender, whip all ingredients together until they form soft peaks and become thickened.
- Once ready, pour mixture into serving bowls and refrigerate until chilled fully.
What Is The Difference Between A Bourbon Cream And A Rum Cream?
The main difference between a bourbon cream and a rum cream is their ingredients.
Most people think of a “rum cream” as being just about any kind of alcohol mixed in with whipped cream or ice cream.
However, there are actually two types of rum creams out there.
One type uses dark rum and the other one uses light rum.
The only real difference here is how much sugar is added to each version.
Dark rum is typically sweeter than its lighter counterpart, but both versions will have plenty of sweet flavor from the addition of sugar.
What Is The Difference Between A Bourbon Cream And A Brandy Cream?
The main ingredient in both types of cream is milk, but there are several differences between them such as how they taste, what type of alcohol it contains, and their flavor profile.
Let’s take a look at each one of these variations.
Difference 1 – Bourbon Cream vs Brandy Cream
First off, let us talk about the different types of cream used to make either of these two desserts.
Both have been around since the early 1800s when they were created by French chefs who would blend together butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and whiskey or brandy to create a delicious treat.
While both creams use milk, in order to call something a “cream,” it must contain dairy ingredients like whole milk, skimmed milk powder, powdered nonfat dry milk, whipping cream, evaporated milk, or half-and-half.
These milks can be substituted for cow’s milk (whole, 2%, or skim) but we recommend using only full fat milk for best results.
Both bourbons and brandies come from wine grapes and are distilled into spirits before being aged.
The process of distillation involves heating the fermented grape juice until all of its sugars are extracted and concentrated.
Afterward, the liquid is allowed to cool down and ferment again to produce a clear spirit.
Distillers will often add flavoring agents during the aging process, which is why the final product tastes slightly sweeter than straight wine.
But while the basic ingredients are similar, the major difference lies within their flavor profiles.
While both bourbons and brandies are sweet wines, they also have distinct flavors that give their creams unique characteristics.
Difference 2 – Bourbon Cream Recipe vs Rum Cream Recipe
Second, let’s take a closer look at the differences between bourbon and rum creams.
Similar to the first difference, both products begin with the same base ingredients—milk and butter—but the alcohol content makes them quite different.
Bourbon creams typically contain 40% to 50% ABV (alcohol by volume), whereas rum creams contain anywhere between 10% and 20%.
In addition to the higher percentage of alcohol in rum creams, they tend to be less sweet because they aren’t flavored, unlike bourbon creams, which include cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, coriander, ginger, orange peel, and other tropical spice extracts.
As far as texture goes, bourbon creams are thicker due to their high concentration of fats (such as butter) and they are lighter colored compared to rum creams, which are usually darker due to the caramel coloring added during processing.
Difference 3 – Bourbon Cream vs Whisky Cream
Lastly, let’s compare a bourbon cream to a whisky cream.
As mentioned earlier, both bourbons and whiskys are produced through the fermentation process where yeast transforms fruit juices into alcoholic beverages.
Afterwards, distillers age the liquor in barrels for months or years depending on the style, resulting in a range of different flavors.
Because of this, the flavor profile of a whisky cream can vary widely based on the specific type of whisky used.
Although both bourbons and whiskys are considered sweet liquors, they differ in regards to sweetness levels and alcohol concentrations.
For instance, single malt Scotch whiskys are generally more viscous than multi-grain whiskeys.
In contrast, bourbon creams are much thinner and smoother than whisky creams.
What Is The Difference Between A Bourbon Cream And A Whisky Cream?
The main distinction between these two types of drinks comes down to their primary ingredients.
Whisky cream contains whiskey as its base component, while bourbon cream uses bourbon instead.
Whiskey and bourbon have similar flavors, but they also come from different regions in North America.
Bourbon originated from Kentucky, where many distilleries still exist today.
Whiskeys were created by Scottish settlers who settled in Ireland during the 18th century.
Whisk(e)y cream is generally sweeter than Bourbon cream due to the higher sugar content of whiskeys compared to bourbons.
However, both varieties can be served at room temperature or chilled before consumption.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (or half-and-half)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons bourbon (or 3 teaspoons of any other liquor)
Equipment Needed
You will need a double boiler setup, which involves heating a pan filled with water over low heat until it reaches a simmer.
You will also require a whisk attachment for your stand mixer.
How Long Does It Take To Make A Bourbon Cream?
The preparation time depends entirely upon how busy you are at the moment.
You can prepare your ingredients in advance, but we recommend preparing them as soon as possible after purchasing them.
If you have all the necessary ingredients already prepared and ready to go, then whipping up a batch of bourbon cream will only require about ten minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250ml) milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (200g)
- ⅔ cup cornstarch
- One 14 ounce bottle of bourbon (430 ml)
If you don’t want to use a whisk attachment when making your cream, then simply add the butter into the mixture before combining the other ingredients.
Step-by-step instructions
First off, pour the milk into a small saucepan over medium heat and let simmer until it reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43oC).
Once the temperature hits 110 degrees, remove the pan from the stovetop and set aside to cool down completely.
Once the milk starts cooling down, place the bowl of an electric mixer onto a mixing surface.
Add the cold milk to the bowl and stir.
Then combine the milk and butter together using a hand blender or whisk attachment.
Add the vanilla extract and continue stirring.
Next, add the sugar and ¼ cup of water, followed by the cornstarch.
Continue to mix the ingredients together until they become thick and creamy.
Now, slowly pour the liquid through a sieve into another container and discard any solids remaining inside the sieve.
Pour the liquid back into the mixing bowl, along with the chilled milk and butter mixture, and continue mixing for 2 more minutes.
Finally, pour the liquid into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.
The next day, whip the frozen cream with an electric beater on low speed to break up the ice crystals.
Repeat this process three times.
When you’ve whipped up enough cream, transfer the contents into a large mixing bowl and beat on high speed until the mixture becomes smooth and silky.
It should feel like soft peaks form around the edge of the bowl once the cream begins to thicken.
Transfer the cream into a serving dish and refrigerate until ready to eat.
What Is The Difference Between A Bourbon Cream And A Cognac
The term “cognac” can be applied to several different types of alcohols.
In general, all these spirits have been distilled from fermented grapes or other fruits (such as cherries) in order to produce their distinctive flavors and aromas.
Cognacs come in many forms including brandy, eaux de vie, and liqueurs.
They tend to be strong and sweet, but they also have unique flavor profiles.
Some of the more common variations include Armagnac, Calvados, Chartreuse, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Haig & Haig, Herbsaint, Kina Lillet, Laphroaig, Pastis, Piper-Heidsieck, Pernod Ricard, Rhum Jura, Sauternes, St.-Emilion, Tia Maria, Vichyssoise, and XO Cognac.
However, there are two main categories of cognacs: Blended and unblended.
The former includes Cognac varieties like Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, and Van Gogh, while the latter includes brands such as Chateau d’Yquem, Domaine Tempier, Hine, and Petrus.
Some people may confuse a cognac with a whiskey simply because both contain high levels of proof.
However, there are important differences between the two products.
As we mentioned above, whiskey is usually aged for longer periods than cognac, which allows them to develop complex flavors over time.
Whiskey also tends to use corn rather than sugar cane for fermentation, resulting in lighter body and color.
In addition, cognac must be aged at least three years before being sold.
It’s not uncommon for a bottle of cognac to cost hundreds of dollars per unit.
While this makes sense when considering the amount of work and effort required by producers, it means that few people will ever get the chance to try out one of these rare spirits.
On top of that, because cognac isn’t blended, each batch of liquor tastes slightly different.
Because of this, you should always ask for advice about what type of cognac you want before making any purchase.
Finally, a cognac typically comes with its own glassware, whereas a whiskey doesn’t.
If you’ve never tried either product, you might think that a cognac tastes better than a whiskey due to the fact that it comes in a fancy glass container.
But don’t let this fool you! A good quality whiskey will still taste great once served up using a traditional cocktail shaker.
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup bourbon
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tbsp instant coffee granules
Instructions
- Blend all materials together and pulse the machine three times.
- Pour contents of airtight container into refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.