Lovers of Scottish whisky are bound to love their whisky neat. But, there are multiple ways you can have your favorite alcohol while keeping its flavor intact. The best way of doing it is making some Scotch cocktails yourself. And trust us when we say they’re not a waste of good Scotch whisky. There are some amazing Scotch cocktails that are a great blend of the whisky’s characteristics against some interesting flavors.
Here are a few recipes for some of the best Scotch cocktails that are absolutely worth trying.
Blood And Sand Cocktail
Blood And Sand is a classic Scotch cocktail that’s ideal for people on the fence about Scotch. It was extremely popular in the 1920s and 30s and has continued to be a cult favorite to date. Unlike most Scotch cocktails, Blood And Sand doesn’t have a spicy and spirit-heavy flavor. Rather, it has a perfectly balanced fruity flavor from the cherry brandy or liqueur and blood orange juice.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce of blended Scotch whisky
- 1 ounce cherry brandy or cherry liqueur
- ½ ounce of blood orange juice
- ½ ounce of sweet vermouth
- Orange twist for garnish
How To Make Blood And Sand Cocktail
- Add all liquids into the cocktail shaker along with some crushed ice. Mix them all for about 1 minute until they’re all blended and turn icy cold.
- Strain this mix into your cocktail glass. Add some ice cubes and garnish it with an orange twist.
Also read: Know The Difference Between Single Malt And Blended Whiskeys
Scotch Sour
Scotch Sour is the cocktail to try if you don’t like the intense flavor of Scotch. It isn’t overly sour but the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, citrusy, and sour flavors. These flavors make Scotch Sour a very light and smooth cocktail. Additionally, it’s a drink that requires the simplest of ingredients and less than 5 minutes to make. This Scotch Sour recipe does not have egg whites, but you can go ahead and add that if you prefer it in your drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of your favorite blended Scotch
- 1 ounce of fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce of simple syrup
- Lemon wedge and cocktail cherry for garnish
How To Make Scotch Sour
- Add all of the mixers and alcohol to a cocktail shaker. Mix them all well for a good minute until they blend.
- Pour some ice cubes into your cocktail glass and strain this mix into the glass. Give it a good stir.
- Garnish this drink with a lemon wedge and cocktail cherry and your cocktail is ready to be served!
Rusty Nail
Two ingredients and some amateur bartending skills are all it takes to make the elegant Rusty Nail. You only need your favorite Scotch whisky and Drambuie. Drambuie is essentially a sweet golden-colored liqueur made with a Scotch whisky base. Both the Scotch and Drambuie complement each other really well and make for one of the best Scotch cocktails on this list.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces of Scotch whisky
- 3/4 ounce of Drambuie
- Low-melting ice ball
How To Make Rusty Nail
- Add the low-melting ice ball to the cocktail glass and pour both your spirits into it.
- Give it a good stir and cheers!
Godfather
Godfather is a cocktail that’s been a favorite since the 1970s. It’s the cocktail you sip on when you’re tired from working all week and need to relax. It’s another cocktail on the list that needs just two ingredients and takes less than a minute to make. Godfather is best served along with desserts like cheesecake, baklava, or tiramisu. All these desserts complement the cocktail very well and when you’re offered it, you simply can’t refuse!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Scotch whisky
- 1/2 ounce amaretto liqueur
How To Make Godfather
- Add the whisky and amaretto liqueur to a cocktail shaker with some crushed ice. Shake this well until it’s all cold and blended well.
- Put some ice cubes in a cocktail glass and strain your cocktail mixture in it.
Mamie Taylor
This delicious cocktail was named after Mamie Taylor; a popular opera singer from the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are many stories about how this drink came to be. And one popular story goes that a bartender from Rochester, New York created this drink at her request. Since then, it was sold at the bar and named after her. Mamie Taylor is a classic one that’s a mixture of some spicy, sweet, and citrusy flavors. If you’re a fan of Moscow Mule, you’ll definitely love this one.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of Scotch whisky
- ½ ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 6 ounces of ginger ale or ginger beer
- Lime wedge for garnish
How To Make Mamie Taylor
- Add the whisky and lime juice to a cocktail shaker and shake it well until blended.
- Pour this mixture into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Pour the ginger ale or ginger beer on top and give it a good stir.
- Garnish the cocktail with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Scotch Old Fashioned
Scotch Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail and is among one of the oldest cocktails to ever be made. It’s been a part of several parties, celebrations, and hangout sessions since the 19th century. There are not many drinks that carry the air of sophistication, and Scotch Old Fashioned is one of those. The whisky adds the smoky and oak flavor to the drink that you don’t see in a normal Old Fashioned. And that’s what makes Scotch Old Fashioned a better cocktail of the two in our opinion.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of blended Scotch
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- 2 dashes of aromatic bitters
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- Orange zest or orange wedge for garnish
How To Make Scotch Old Fashioned
- Add all of your ingredients into a cocktail shaker and add some crushed ice to it. Give them all a good shake until they all blend and turn cold.
- Strain this mix into your cocktail glass over some ice cubes.
- Garnish this with some nicely manicured orange zest or an orange wedge.
Affinity
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Affinity is one Scotch cocktail that you must try at least once. It’s packed with flavors and just the right amount of alcohol. You can either use blended Scotch whisky for a strong cocktail or a single malt Scotch for a mellow one. Either way, it’s going to be a flavorful one. Once you’ve cracked how to make this cocktail, you’ll come back to this one every now and then. But, having said that, you’ll need some time to get all the portions set and make Affinity to perfection. Once you do, you’re set!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces of Scotch whisky
- ½ ounce of dry vermouth
- ½ ounce of sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
How To Make Affinity
- Combine all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and give it a good shake.
- Strain this mixture into a chilled glass and your cocktail is ready to be served.
Final Words
Scotch is hard to beat anyway, and all of the above-mentioned cocktails are some of the best Scotch cocktails that you’ll try. You have the recipe for each of them, so you can surely try to make them at home. They are rich, have a smoky taste mixed with other flavors, and make for the best cocktails to share with your friend’s group. So what are you waiting for? Grab your bottle of Scotch and get to making some cocktails.
FAQs On 7 Best Scotch Cocktails You Don’t Want To Miss
What Mixes Best With Scotch?
There are simple mixers that go really well with Scotch. Some of the more popular ones are:
- Drambuie
- Amaretto
- Apple cider
- Soda
- Coke
What Is The Most Common Way To Drink Scotch?
The simplest and most common way to have Scotch is neat or on the rocks. Scotch is best served at room temperature and if you’re having it neat, you can sip on some water to cleanse your palate every once in a while.
Does Scotch Mix With Coke?
Yes, Scotch and Coke is a very good combination. If you’re not a fan of having your whisky neat, Coke is the next best option. You just need to find the right portion for each of those and once you’ve got it, Scotch and Coke is one of the simplest and best ways to enjoy your whisky.
