Unsure which whisky drinks you’d like to try next? Wonder no more, thanks to this handy guide of some of the best whisky cocktails out there. Let it serve as a springboard for your imagination as you discover fifteen whisky cocktails you must try.
1. Old Fashioned
The seminal whisky cocktail. Whisky, bitters, sugar and a slice of orange or a garnish of peel. Straightforward in principle, there are a huge number of variations even within any given city. Experimentation is not only encouraged, it’s mandatory.
Ingredients:
- 60ml of whisky
- 2 tsp of sugar syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Soda water (optional)
- Ice cubes
- 1 orange slice, to serve
Method:
- Pour sugar, bitters and soda water in a small tumbler
- Fill a glass with ice and add the whisky
- Garnish with orange peel
2. Manhattan
Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters — a simple combination, yet one of the most enduring whisky cocktails around the world. As with the Old Fashioned, there are countless “signature” versions to be found. Why not create your own?
Ingredients:
- 60ml rye whiskey
- 30ml sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Ice cubes
- Orange peel, to serve
- Cherries, to serve
Method:
- Pour all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir well until chilled
- Rub the orange peel around the rim of a coupe or martini glass, then fill with the chilled mixture
- Garnish with cherries and orange peel
3. Whisky Sour
Tart lemon juice to accompany your whisky and perhaps a little sugar syrup too. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, throw an egg white into the cocktail shaker too; it adds a pleasant, velvety feel to proceedings.
Ingredients:
- 50ml bourbon whiskey
- 35ml lemon juice
- 12 ½ml sugar syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- ½ fresh egg white (optional)
- Ice cubes
- Slice of orange, to serve
- Cherries, to serve
Method:
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake
- Strain into a coupe
- Garnish with cherries and orange slices
4. New York Sour
What distinguishes a New York Sour from a regular whisky sour? Just a cheeky little red wine floating on top. Looks like a miniature version of the Fire Engine mocktail, while being infinitely better.
Ingredients:
- 60ml bourbon whiskey
- Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 45ml sugar syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
- 45ml dry red wine
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Pour bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and ice in a cocktail shaker
- Shake well for 25 seconds, then strain into a glass over ice
- Slowly pour the red wine over the back of a bar spoon so it floats on top of the drink
5. John Collins
See that whisky sour above at number 3? Throw some club soda into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a John Collins. Ideal in a highball glass.
Ingredients:
- 50ml bourbon whiskey
- 35ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 12 ½ml sugar syrup
- Ice cubes
- 1 lemon wheel
Method:
- Pour whisky, lemon juice and sugar syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker
- Strain into a highball glass, top with soda and stir to combine
- Garnish with lemon wheel
6. Irish Coffee
If you like coffee AND Irish whiskey, we have a treat for you. Simply place a shot of Irish Whiskey into your mug, along with a little brown sugar and some whipped cream.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Irish whiskey
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- Hot brewed coffee
- Whipped cream, to garnish
Method:
- Fill an Irish coffee mug with hot water and set it aside for 2 minutes
- Pour out the water and add whiskey and sugar to the heated glass
- Fill with coffee and stir
- Top with unsweetened lightly whipped cream
7. Mint Julep
Sweet and refreshing, a mint julep is simply some whisky (perhaps bourbon), mint leaves and sugar. Muddle it all together and you’ve got the ideal drink for any warm day. Made by the glass or by the jug.
Ingredients:
- 65ml bourbon whiskey
- 10 mint leaves
- 12.5ml sugar syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig, to garnish
Method:
- In a Julep cup, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the sugar syrup
- Add whiskey and pack the glass tightly with crushed ice
- Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside
- Top with more crushed ice
- Garnish with a mint sprig
8. Hot Toddy
With a blend of lemon, honey, whisky, cinnamon and cloves, a hot toddy is the perfect drink for any cold winter’s evening.
Ingredients:
- 50ml whisky
- 1 tbsp honey
- 45ml lemon juice
- 2 cloves
- ¾ cup of hot water
- Lemon peel, to garnish
- 1 cinnamon stick, to garnish
Method:
- Pour boiling water into a mug
- Add whisky, honey, lemon juice and cloves and stir gently until honey dissolves
- Garnish with lemon peel and a cinnamon stick
9. Sazerac
The wilder cousin of the Old Fashioned, a Sazerac blends whisky, absinthe, bitters and orange peel to a surprisingly punchy effect.
Ingredients:
- 15ml absinthe
- 1 sugar cube
- 1 dash of bitters
- 2 dashes of Sazerac bitters
- 50mL rye whiskey
- Lemon peel, to garnish
- Crushed ice
Method:
- Add crushed ice and absinthe into a glass and set aside
- In another glass, add 1 sugar cube, 1 dash of bitters and 2 dashes of sazerac bitters.
- Add 50ml of rye whiskey and crush together
- Discard crushed ice and absinthe from prepared glass. Do not rinse the glass
- Strain the cocktail into the absinthe-coated glass
- Garnish with lemon peel
10. The Pickle Back
A shot of Irish whiskey, followed by a shot of pickle juice. It doesn’t get much simpler. On paper an odd combination, in practice it’s a delicious blend of sweet, smokey and savoury.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Irish whiskey
- 50ml pickle juice
Method:
- Pour one shot glass full of whiskey and another shot glass full of pickle juice
11. Lynchburg Lemonade
Offset the grainy sweetness of whisky with citrus and lemon-lime flavours. Ideal with Tennessee whiskey but drinkable with all styles. Perfect for that old-timey lemonade feel.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Tennessee whiskey
- 30ml triple sec
- 30ml lemon juice
- 120ml lemon-lime soda
- Lemon peel, to garnish
Method:
- Pour whisky, triple sec and lemon juice in a Collins glass and add ice
- Top with soda water and stir well
- Garnish with lemon peel
12. Whisky & Cola
A gateway drink to whisky for many, whisky and cola nonetheless remains a highball classic. Pour yourself whisky to taste, then match with your preferred amount of cola-flavoured soda. Throw a bit of ice in too.
Ingredients:
- 60ml whisky
- 180ml Cola
Method:
- Add whisky and Cola into a Collins glass
- Stir well and serve
13. Rusty Nail
One for the scotch aficionados. Simply select your favourite single malt and pour yourself a dram. Then pour another dram of a blended whisky over the top. The flavour variations are almost infinite.
Ingredients:
- 45ml scotch whisky
- 25ml Drambuie
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Pour whisky and Drambuie into an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes
- Stir well and serve
14. Whisky Cobbler
Spare seasonal fruit in the fridge? Get some of it into that drinking glass of yours and you’ve got yourself a whisky cobbler. Berries work exceptionally well. Season to taste with club soda if you’d like, though it’s by no means mandatory.
Ingredients:
- 60ml bourbon whiskey
- 40ml sugar syrup
- Soda water
- Fresh seasonal fruit
- Crushed ice
Method:
- Stir whisky and syrup in a red wine glass
- Fill with crushed ice, add a splash of soda water and stir well
- Garnish with fruit
15. Millionaire Cocktail
Impress all of your fancy friends with this rye whiskey or bourbon cocktail. With a blend of orange curaçao, grenadine, raspberry liqueur and egg white, you’ll certainly feel like a millionaire even if your bank account says otherwise.
Ingredients:
- 60ml bourbon whiskey
- 25ml Grand Marnier
- 7ml absinthe
- 7ml grenadine
- Half an egg white
- 15ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to serve
Method:
- Add bourbon whiskey, Grand Marnier, absinthe, grenadine, egg white and lemon juice into a shaker and dry-shake
- Add ice and shake again
- Strain into a coupe glass and stir
- Grate nutmeg over the top
Shop online for whisky with Good Drop
Feeling thirsty after reading through that list? At Good Drop, we stock a fantastic range of
whisky, scotch and Irish whiskey — so you’ll never be short of an ingredient for your next round of the best whisky cocktails. With next business day delivery Monday to Friday throughout the Illawarra region when you order before 11am, Good Drop is your go-to site for prestige whiskies.