Must-Try Whisky Cocktail Recipes

Whisky is a classic drink with a variety of types. From rye whisky, Irish whiskey, to bourbon, this drink made by distilling fermented grain mash is often served neat or on the rocks. This allows you to savour in its rich tastes. Whisky may not be neutral-tasting like vodka or gin, but it can also feature in cocktails. In fact, some of the most classic cocktails you’ve heard of has whisky as the main ingredient. Whether you’re making highballs for yourself, or you’re having company over, we’ve compiled the best whisky cocktail recipes for you to try at home. Better yet, we’re showing you ingredients you can buy right here at Red & White!

The classics

Novice at-home mixologists can benefit from being familiar with these classic whisky cocktails. These are some of the most well-known drinks out there.

1. Whisky sour

Pairing the sweetness of whisky with the acidity in lemon, this drink creates the perfect balance on the taste buds. It only takes 3 minutes to prepare. You’ll need:

• Whisky
• Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• Simple syrup
• Maraschino cherries to garnish

It may take you a while to get the whiskey to lemon juice ratio right, but keep experimenting!

Ingredients for whisky sour available at Red & White:

• Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

2. Old fashioned

A classic cocktail with a little bit of fizz, the old fashioned is a popular drink choice. To make your own, you need:

• Whisky or bourbon
• Bitters
• Sugar or sugar syrup
• Soda water
• Orange slice
• Water

To fashion an old fashioned, pour some water in a glass with bitters and some sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add ice. Pour whisky and soda water over the rocks, and stir well. Garnish with an orange slice.

Ingredients for old fashioned available at Red & White:

• Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Angostura aromatic bitters

3. Manhattan

This is possibly one of the oldest cocktails to exist, first introduced in the 1870’s at The Manhattan Club in New York. Manhattan will satisfy the sweet-toothed out there, and it’s recommended to use rye whisky. Make your own Manhattan with:

• Rye whisky
• Bitters
• Sweet red vermouth
• Cherry for garnish

This drink is easy to prepare. Simply stir in all ingredients together in a cocktail glass, and you’re done!

Ingredients for Manhattan available at Red & White:

• Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey
• Angostura aromatic bitters
• Martini Rosso vermouth

4. Mint julep

Usually presented in silver cups or tins, mint julep is another timeless cocktail. It specifically uses bourbon whiskey as the main ingredient. A glass of mint julep contains:

• Bourbon
• Mint leaves
• Sugar or simple syrup
• Crushed ice

Drop mint and sugar or simple syrup into your cup. Use a muddler to crush the ingredients well. This lets out the aromas in the mint leaves. Then, add in your bourbon, and fill the glass the rest of the way with crushed ice and stir. Garnish with more mint leaves. It’s important to use crushed ice instead of cubed, because other kinds of ice won’t give the same effect.

Ingredients for mint julep available at Red & White:

• Knob Creek Original Bourbon Whiskey

5. Irish mule

A twist on the Moscow mule which uses vodka, the Irish mule features – of course – Irish whiskey. It is normally served in a copper mug. The Irish mule only uses three ingredients:

• Irish whiskey
• Ginger beer
• Lime juice

Simply add all your ingredients to a glass with ice, and stir.

Ingredients for Irish mule available at Red & White:

• Bushmills Original Blended Whiskey
• Fever Tree Ginger Beer

More whisky cocktails

If you’re looking to explore more flavours, here are some other less traditional recipes you can try out.

1. Irish coffee

Is Irish coffee just spiked coffee, or is it a full-on cocktail? We’ll leave that for you to try making, and decide for yourself. To make proper Irish coffee, you need:

• Hot coffee
• Brown sugar
• Irish whiskey
• Lightly whipped heavy cream

Start by pouring hot coffee over brown sugar in a glass. Add in a shot of Irish whiskey, and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Add in your whipped cream on top and don’t mix.

Ingredients for Irish whiskey available at Red & White:

• Bushmills Black Bush Blended Whiskey

2. Sazerac

Originating in New Orleans in the 1800’s, Sazerac is an upgrade on simple rye whisky. A glass of Sazerac contains:

• Rye whisky
• Bitters
• Absinthe or anise liqueur
• Sugar cube
• Lemon twist for garnish

Fix yourself a Sazerac by firstly filling up an old fashioned glass with ice and letting it chill on the side. Muddle one sugar cube and a tiny bit of bitters in a separate glass, then add in your rye whisky. Then, throw out the ice in the previous glass, which should now be properly cold. Rinse the glass with a little bit of absinthe or anise liqueur, then pour in the drink mixture into the chilled glass. Squeeze a lemon twist into the drink and plop it on the rim.

Ingredients for Sazerac available at Red & White:

• Bulleit Rye Whisky
• Sambuca Borghetti anise liqueur

3. Hot toddy

Not all cocktails and alcoholic drinks are served with ice. Some, like the hot toddy, are created for the sole purpose of creating warmth in the winter time. On a chilly day, you can take:

• Whisky
• Lemon juice
• Honey
• Cinnamon stick
• Hot water

In a heatproof glass, whisk together whisky and honey. Add in a cinnamon stick and pour 200ml of boiling water into the glass. Add in lemon juice to taste, and stir everything well.

Ingredients for hot toddy available at Red & White:

• Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon