Head to head
Bourbon Renewal and Illegal side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have simple syrup. Only the Bourbon Renewal has bourbon, lemon juice, crème de cassis and Angostura bitters; only the Illegal has mezcal, overproof white rum, falernum, Maraschino liqueur and lime juice. In parts, a Bourbon Renewal is 4 whiskey, 2 lemon, 1 cassis and 1 syrup; an Illegal is 2 mezcal, 1 rum, 1 falernum, ¼ Maraschino, 1½ lime and 1 syrup. By volume, the Bourbon Renewal is 50% spirit, 25% citrus, 13% syrup and sugar and 12% liqueur; the Illegal is 44% spirit, 22% citrus, 19% liqueur and 15% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Bourbon Renewal is the stronger drink in the glass (15.0% ABV against 14.5%) and holds more alcohol (1.68 standard drinks against 1.43). The Bourbon Renewal has more calories (about 231 against 204) and more sugar (16.0 g against 14.7 g). Both are shaken; the Bourbon Renewal is served in a rocks glass, the Illegal in a coupe.
Sours · Whiskey
The ratio · 4 : 2 : 1 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Illegal.
Sours · Mezcal
The ratio · 2 : 1 : 1 : ¼ : 1½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Bourbon Renewal.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Bourbon Renewal vs.
Illegal vs.