Nooku Peppermint Bourbon Cream 750ML

Nooku Peppermint Bourbon Cream 750ML is a 17% ABV bourbon cream spirit made with real dairy cream and natural peppermint flavoring at Old Elk Distillery in Colorado. Built on a bourbon base that uses four times more malted barley than traditional recipes, Nooku's parent line earned a Gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — though this peppermint variant is a distinct expression with its own character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 17% (34 Proof)  |  Origin: Colorado, USA  |  Bourbon Cream Liqueur  |  Distillery: Old Elk Distillery

Production & Heritage

Old Elk Distillery, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, produces the bourbon that forms the backbone of every Nooku expression. The base spirit is a two-year-old bourbon with a mashbill of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye — a grain bill notable for its unusually high proportion of malted barley, which Old Elk credits for added depth and smoothness. That bourbon undergoes a slow-cut proofing process significantly longer than industry standard before being blended with fresh dairy cream and natural peppermint flavor. Nooku distinguishes itself by containing no added sugar and no supplemental spirits — the only components are bourbon, real cream, and peppermint.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla and peppermint arrive in roughly equal measure on the nose, with a clearly milky, creamy undertone supporting both. Hints of spicy toffee and a faint warmth from the bourbon round out the initial impression.

Taste: Peppermint takes the lead on the palate, asserting itself as the dominant flavor. The body is creamy without being overly heavy, though the sweetness builds considerably through the mid-palate. Caramel and vanilla from the bourbon peek through, but peppermint remains front and center, pushing subtler notes of cinnamon and chocolate to the background.

Finish: The finish is sweet and lingering, with a rich, coating texture that clings to the palate. A bold bourbon warmth resurfaces at the tail end alongside residual peppermint coolness.

How to Drink Nooku Peppermint

Served chilled and neat, the peppermint and cream come through with full intensity — pouring over ice tempers the sweetness and opens up the bourbon's caramel backbone. At 17% ABV, this is a versatile mixer that slots easily into dessert-style cocktails.

• Peppermint White Russian: Replace standard cream with Nooku Peppermint for a minty, bourbon-driven twist on the classic.
• Spiked Hot Chocolate: Stir into rich hot cocoa — the mint and cream integrate seamlessly with chocolate, adding bourbon warmth.
• Espresso Martini: Swap out or supplement coffee liqueur to introduce peppermint and dairy richness alongside espresso's bitterness.

Best For

• Holiday entertaining and seasonal cocktail menus
• After-dinner sipping as a standalone dessert pour
• Gifting to fans of flavored whiskey or cream liqueurs
• Adding a bourbon-based alternative to a cream liqueur collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nooku Peppermint taste like? Nooku Peppermint is peppermint-forward with a creamy, moderately sweet body backed by caramel and vanilla notes from the underlying bourbon. It drinks closer to a rich peppermint milkshake than a traditional whiskey, given its 17% ABV and dairy cream base.

How does Nooku Peppermint compare to Baileys Irish Cream? Baileys uses Irish whiskey as its spirit base, while Nooku Peppermint is built on a Colorado bourbon with a high malted barley mashbill, giving it a distinctly American grain character. Nooku also claims no added sugar and no supplemental spirits, whereas Baileys incorporates both sugar and additional flavorings in its formulation.

Is Nooku Peppermint good for cocktails? Its creamy body and pronounced peppermint flavor make it a natural fit for dessert cocktails, spiked hot drinks, and any recipe calling for a cream liqueur with a minty twist. The bourbon backbone provides enough structure to hold up alongside coffee, chocolate, and vanilla mixers.

Where is Nooku Peppermint made? Nooku Peppermint Bourbon Cream is produced at Old Elk Distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The bourbon base is distilled and aged on-site before being blended with fresh dairy cream and natural peppermint flavor.

What foods pair well with Nooku Peppermint? Dark chocolate truffles complement the mint and bourbon warmth. Brownies or chocolate lava cake amplify the dessert character. Vanilla cheesecake provides a neutral canvas for the peppermint to shine. Candy cane bark or peppermint cookies create a layered seasonal pairing. Salted caramel desserts echo the bourbon's caramel notes while balancing the sweetness.

What sizes does Nooku Peppermint come in? The standard widely available format is 750ML, which is the most common size found at retail.

Is Nooku Peppermint worth the price? Nooku Peppermint positions as a mid-range cream spirit that justifies its pricing through its bourbon pedigree — the Old Elk base spirit, with its distinctive high-malt mashbill and no-added-sugar formulation, gives it a legitimate craft distinction over mass-market cream liqueurs. For drinkers who value real dairy cream and actual bourbon provenance over a generic spirit base, it represents solid value in the category.

Why Nooku Peppermint?

What separates Nooku from the broader cream liqueur field starts with its foundation: a genuine two-year-old Colorado bourbon built on 34% malted barley — a ratio that dwarfs the industry norm and contributes a richer, more grain-forward base. The commitment to real dairy cream with no added sugar or supplemental spirits gives it an ingredient transparency rare in this category. The original Nooku Bourbon Cream's Gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition speaks to the quality of the underlying formula, even as this peppermint expression charts its own, more seasonally driven course. For anyone seeking a bourbon cream with genuine distillery credentials and an unambiguous peppermint punch, this expression delivers a straightforward, ingredient-honest option.