Can I make a vodka pie dough and use bourbon in place of vodka? The answer is yes. Yes, you can. 

The original vodka pie dough recipe, published by Cook’s Illustrated in 2007 (RIP), was created because vodka, with its high alcohol content, adds moisture to the dough without aiding in the formation of gluten. 

Less gluten formation = a flakier pie crust. Vodka is also used in place of water (which is very good at helping to form gluten) because it is flavorless, so it doesn’t interfere with the taste of the pie filling.