THE 10 BEST WHISKEY COCKTAILS
Whats best to mix with whisky?
Be it in the cold of the winter, around a fire, when the weather is cool we are drawn to whiskey cocktails: Manhattan’s, Old-Fashioned’s, Boulevardiers, and other classic drinks. But if you believe whiskey has a season, this time of year is the perfect time to play with drinks and riffs you have not tried before. Whiskey pairs beautifully with the cold season, spices, fruits, bitter liqueurs, and rich creamy drinks. Any way you shake it up whiskey is a staple in many cocktail favourites! We put together our top 10 whiskey cocktails!
Whiskey Sour
Sours are short drinks, flavoured with lemon or lime juice. They can be made with almost any spirit, although Whisky Sour was the original and, for many, is still the favorite.
The Whiskey Sour officially dates back to the 1860s, but British Navy sailors were drinking something very similar long before that. Water could not always be relied upon on long sea voyages, so spirits were often used to counteract this.
Serves 1
How to make a good whiskey sour?
Ingredients:
4-6 cracked ice cubes
2 measures American blended whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits Filtration System for Increased Smoothness and Quality)
1 measure lemon juice
1 tsp sugar syrup
cocktail cherry & slice of orange to decorate
- Put the cracked ice into a cocktail shaker. Pour the whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar syrup over the ice. Shake vigorously until a frost forms.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and decorate with the cherry and an orange slice.
Manhattan
Said to have been invented by Sir Winston Churchill's American mother, Jennie, the Manhattan is one of many cocktails named after places in New York. The center of sophistication in the Jazz Age, the city is, once again, buzzing with cocktail bars for a new generation.
Serves 1
How to Make a Good Manhatten?
Ingredients:
4-6 cracked ice cubes
dash of Angostura butters
3 measures rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
1 measure sweet vermouth
cocktail cherry, to decorate
- Put the cracked ice into a mixing glass. Dash the Angostura bitters over the ice and pour the whiskey and vermouth. Stir well to mix.
- Strain into a chilled glass and decorate with the cherry.
Scotchy Boulevardier
Meet the Negroni's wintry cousin - combining rye whiskey and scotch instead of gin makes this whiskey cocktail peppery and rich, with a hint of smoke. Our recipe makes 8 servings, which you can store in the freezer for about 2 weeks. Think of it as meal planning for your home bar - a great way to prepare your Thanksgiving cocktails in advance.
How to make a good Scotchy Boulevardier?
Ingredients:
Serves 2
8-12 cracked ice cubes
2 measures rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
1 measure Campari
1 measure vermouth, such as Carpano Antica
½ measure scotch
1 tsp water
2 orange twists, to decorate
- Put the cracked ice into a mixing glass. Pour the rye whiskey, Campari, vermouth, and the scotch over the ice cubes. Stir well to mix.
- Strain into two chilled glasses, add water to taste and decorate with the orange twists.
Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is the classic whiskey drink, but there is still disagreement on how to make a good Old Fashioned. Simple syrup is used in this drink to avoid grits, though many swear by a sugar cube soaked in bitters instead. Rye or bourbon? That's up to you to decide. This cocktail is the perfect illustration of the saying: ‘Sometimes the old ones are the best!’
How to make a good Old Fashioned?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
sugar cube
dash of Angostura bitters
1 tsp water
2 measures bourbon or rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
4-6 cracked ice cubes
lemon peel, to decorate
- Place the sugar cube in a small, chilled Old Fashioned glass. Dash the otters over the cube and add the water. Mash with a spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
- Pour the bourbon or rye whiskey into the glass and stir. Add the cracked ice cubes and decorate with the lemon twist.
The Highball
The whiskey highball is a straightforward, traditional, and popular way to consume your favorite whiskey. This is a recipe that every aspiring bartender should be familiar with, and it consists of just two ingredients: whiskey and ginger ale. This makes it extremely simple to remember. You don't even need to mix it since the soda's carbonation spontaneously combines with the alcohol. This long blended highball drink is a light and pleasant way to savor any whiskey. In the late 1800s, the highball was made with ordinary soda water, but ginger ale is now the most popular mixer. The sweet and tangy flavor of the soda pairs well with whiskey, and ginger ales come in a variety of flavors. One of the reasons it's so popular is because you can make a practically unlimited variety of flavors with only the two components.
How to make a good highball?
ingredients:
Serves 1
2 ounces whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
4 ounces of ginger ale
- Fill a highball glass with ice
- Pour the whiskey into the glass
- Top with ginger ale
Class Sazerac Cocktail
The Sazerac is a classic New Orleans beverage that dates back to the 1800s. It's a straightforward recipe that adds a wonderful twist to rye whiskey. Only four components are required: rye whiskey, a sugar cube, Peychaud's Bitters, and anise liqueur. It's one of the greatest instances of a well-balanced drink you'll come across, with anise, bitters, and sweetness complementing spicy rye flawlessly.
How to make a Classic Sazerac?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
1 sugar cube
3 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters
2 ounces rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
¼ ounce absinthe
Lemon twist for garnish
- Chill an old-fashioned glass by filling it with ice.
- In a mixing glass, soak the sugar cube with the bitters and muddle to crush the cube
- Add the rye whiskey and stir
- Discard the ice in the chilled glass. Rinse it with absinthe and pour a small amount into the glass. Swirl it around then discard the liquid
- Pour the whiskey mixture into the absinthe rinsed glass
- Squeeze the lemon twist over the drink and then lay it on the rim
The Rusty Nail
The ultimate scotch drink is the rusty nail. It's a basic scotch and Drambuie cocktail that's served on the rocks. It's meant to be a classy, slow-sipping cocktail that's perfect for after dinner. Feel free to move from blended to single malts and try a range of brands, selecting one that is as top-shelf as possible. (Don't worry, you won't be squandering a fine scotch by mixing it with a rusty nail.) You may want to tweak the proportions of the two spirits to suit your preferences, as well as the sort of whiskey you're using.
How to make a Rust Nail?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
1 ½ ounces scotch whisky (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
¾ ounce Drambuie
- Pour the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass with ice
- Stir well and enjoy
New York Sour
The New York sour is a unique flavor combination. It's a simple twist on the classic whiskey sour that includes a red wine float, resulting in two levels of taste that blend as you sip. This is a lovely drink that is simple to make at home. The most common whiskey used in this traditional whiskey drink is rye whiskey, while bourbon is also a popular choice. While rye adds a peppery kick, either grain pairs well with the sweet and sour base. Any type of red wine will suffice. Dry, fruity reds like Bourdeaux, Malbec, and Shiraz are common, and red mixes work well as well.
How to make a good New York Sour?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
2 ounces rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
½ ounce dry red wine
- In a cocktail shaker, pour the whiskey, lemon juice, and syrup.
- Fill with ice
- Shake well
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice
- Float red wine on top by pouring it slowly over the back of a bar spoon
- Serve and enjoy
Whiskey Tonic
The whiskey tonic is a tall, refreshing cocktail that pairs well with your favorite Irish whiskey. It's really easy to make, and the flavor is just as stimulating as the more well-known gin and tonic. This cocktail, sometimes known as a leprechaun, is simple to make. Tonic water's drier character offers a subtle counterpoint to Irish whiskey's creamy blends. This makes this mixed drink an excellent dinner companion since it goes well with anything on the menu, including any traditional Irish cuisine.
How to make a good Whiskey Tonic?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
2 ounces of Irish whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
4 ounces tonic water
Lemon wedge for garnish
- Pour the Irish whiskey into a highball glass
- Fill with ice
- Top with tonic water
- Stir well
- Garnish with lemon
Ward Eight
The Ward Eight is a traditional whiskey sour with a splash of grenadine to enhance sweetness. Ward Eight was created in 1898 at Boston's Locke-Ober restaurant and called after the city's 8th electoral district, according to legend. It was invented by bartender Tom Hussion while his boss, Martin Lomasney, was campaigning for office.
How to make a Ward Eight Cocktail?
Ingredients:
Serves 1
2 ounces of rye whiskey (Filtered through Classy Spirits)
¾ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce orange juice
1 dash grenadine
Maraschino cherry for garnish
Orange slice for garnish
- In a cocktail shaker, add the whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice, and grenadine.
- Add ice
- Shake well
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or colling glass filled with ice
- Garnish with cherry and orange slice