Imagine getting back home from a busy day of work and you’re handed a glass of the finest whiskey cocktail to unwind and relax. Isn’t that one of the best feelings? You wouldn’t have to imagine this scenario if you could make some whiskey cocktails by yourself! They may seem like a lot of work, but most classic whiskey cocktails take no longer than 10 minutes including minimal prep work. Listed below are some of the classic whiskey cocktail recipes you can learn to make by yourself with simple ingredients that you may have lying around in your bar and kitchen.
7 Best Classic Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
- Whiskey Sour
- The Old Fashioned
- Manhattan
- Whiskey Smash
- Irish Blonde
- Summer Rye
- Mint Julep
1. Whiskey Sour
Whiskey Sour is one of the oldest kinds of cocktails with spirit, citrus, and sugar as its main ingredients. Traditionally, egg whites are also used in the cocktail to give it a smooth texture and tame the tart flavor of the drink.
In the recipe below, we have also included egg whites but that’s an optional ingredient that you can skip. The Whiskey Sour has ample variations that you can find online. And that’s the best part, it’s customizable and appeals to a large group of people!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of whiskey
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- ¾ ounce of lemon juice
- ½ ounce of egg white (this is optional)
- Angostura bitters for garnish
How To Make Whiskey Sour
- Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker, and dry shake for about 40 seconds.
- Add some crushed ice to the shaker, and give it another shake until the mixture is icy cold.
- Strain this into a cocktail glass over ice cubes, garnish with a few drops of Angostura bitters, and your cocktail is ready to be served.
Also Read: 5 Of The Most Expensive Single Malt Whiskeys In India
2. The Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is as classic as a cocktail can get. This one can be made with a variety of base alcohols, but the one made with Scotch whisky is the best one to try. It’s strong, smooth, and also tastes delightful. With some basic ingredients that might be lying around your pantry, you can make this delicious cocktail in under 10 minutes. So gather your ingredients and make a glass of Old Fashioned to enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of Scotch whisky
- 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces of Sprite
- 2 cherries for garnish
- 2 orange slices (one for garnish and one for the cocktail)
How To Make The Old Fashioned
- Add the bitters, cherries, an orange slice, and simple syrup into a bowl and muddle to combine.
- Add some crushed ice to your cocktail glass, add the muddled mixture, add your whiskey as well, and give it a good stir.
- Top the drink with Sprite and stir for a few more seconds.
- Garnish the drink with a cherry and an orange slice.
Also Read: 5 Best Gifts For Whiskey Lovers
3. Classic Manhattan
The Manhattan was invented in New York City’s Manhattan Club which is where it gets its name from. It was one of the most popular cocktails in the 19th century and remains to be a popular one now as well. Like any other classic cocktail, there are several variations of the Manhattan, but the Classic Manhattan has to be one of the best ones you will try.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of rye whiskey
- 1 ounce of sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Lemon twist for garnish
How To Make A Manhattan
- Add the whiskey, bitters, sweet vermouth, and ice cubes into a cocktail glass and give it a good stir.
- Garnish the drink with a lemon twist and enjoy your cocktail.
Also Read: Know The Difference Between Single Malt And Blended Whiskeys
4. Whiskey Smash
There are more than a few delicious cocktails belonging to the whiskey cocktail family, but nothing beats a refreshing Whiskey Smash. This cocktail has fruity, citrus, sweet, and minty flavors which are well balanced with alcohol.
Whiskey Smash is like the fruity cousin of Mint Julep with just a few more refreshing flavors and an amazing fruity punch. If you haven’t tried this one yet, follow the simple recipe given below.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of bourbon
- ¾ ounce of simple syrup
- 3 lemon wedges
- 4 mint leaves
- Mint sprig for garnish
How To Make Whiskey Smash
- Add the lemon wedges and some mint springs to a cocktail shaker, and muddle them.
- Pour all of your other ingredients into the cocktail shaker, add some crushed ice as well, and give it a good shake.
- Strain it into a cocktail glass over ice cubes, top it off with mint spring and your cocktail is all done.
Also Read: 5 Scottish Gin Cocktails To Try This International Scottish Gin Day
5. Irish Blonde
The Irish Blonde is one of the fancier cocktails that you can sip on. Its ingredients include the perfect combination of Irish whiskey, orange liqueur, and sherry. You can use any of the affordable whiskeys in your collection to make this cocktail at your home. So don’t wait, get all the ingredients ready to make this fancy cocktail and end your week with a bang!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of Irish whiskey
- ¾ ounce of orange curaçao
- ¼ ounce of fino sherry wine
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
How To Make Irish Blonde
- All add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker along with some ice cubes and give it a shake.
- Strain this into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel.
Also Read: Love A Good Gin & Tonic? Try These 6 Indian Tonic Water Brands
6. Summer Rye
Summer Rye is a cocktail that can be enjoyed in summer, winter, and monsoon. It’s one of the most interesting cocktails on the list majorly because of its interesting list. Summer Rye is sweet, fruity, smooth, and strong to taste. The apple juice and the elderflower liqueur really add to the sweet taste of the cocktail.
Simple ingredients and basic bartending skills are all you need to make Summer Rye at home. So don’t wait for the weekend to arrive, get these ingredients out of the home bar and make some for yourself.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounce of rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce of champagne
- ¾ ounce of elderflower liqueur
- 1 ounce of apple juice
- ¾ ounce of lemon juice
- ¼ ounce of simple syrup
- Apple cubes for garnish
How To Make Summer Rye
- Add the rye whiskey, apple juice, simple syrup, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and crushed ice to a cocktail shaker, and shake until it all blends well.
- Strain it into a cocktail glass over ice cubes and top it off with the champagne.
- Finally, garnish the drink with the apple cubes, and cheers!
Also Read: Beginner’s Guide To Different Types Of Wine Glasses
7. Mint Julep
The best way to have your favorite Mint Julep is in a Julep cup or a rock glass. It’s a classic bourbon cocktail that’s very well known for being the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. Mint Julep is made with the simplest of ingredients and tastes amazing.
It’s best served on a hot summer day as you sit by the pool and relax. If you want to know how to make this cocktail at home, follow the instructions given below and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of your favorite single malt whiskey
- ¼ ounce of simple syrup
- 6 mint leaves
- Mint sprig to garnish
How To Make Mint Julep
- In a cocktail shaker add the simple syrup, and 5 mint leaves, and muddle them until the flavors are mixed and the aroma is dispersed.
- Pour this mixture into your cocktail glass, add some crushed ice, and pour your single malt whiskey into the glass.
- Give this cocktail a good stir, and garnish it with a mint leaf.
Also Read: 7 Easy Gin Cocktail Recipes That You Should Try
Summing Up
A classic whiskey cocktail is going to be the best to get the shenanigans of the weekend started. Once you’ve learned to make at least a few of the whiskey cocktails mentioned above, you’re all set to get the weekend rolling. They are simple, easy to make, and best of all, taste absolutely delicious.
FAQs
What Is Best To Mix With Whiskey?
Whiskey is great to taste as it is, but you can also try mixing it with soda, Coca-Cola, Sprite, or just simply with a mixture of simple syrup and lemon juice.
What Cocktail Is Made From Whiskey?
Whiskey is one of the most versatile alcoholic drinks and its classic cocktails are known for their taste and flavors. Some of the classic whiskey cocktails are the Whiskey Sour, the Old Fashioned, the Manhattan, and the Whiskey Smash.
How Do You Make Whiskey Taste Good?
Fans of whiskey love the drink in all shapes and forms. But those who are not whiskey lovers may want to try having the drink by making some delicious cocktails out of it. Cocktails usually combine some interesting ingredients to elevate the flavors of the alcoholic drink.
So if you haven’t already, try making some delicious cocktails with your bottle of affordable whiskey.
What Are Common Whiskey Drinks?
Not everyone enjoys their whiskey on the rocks. Some prefer having whiskey cocktails that give the diverse drink a unique taste. Some of the common whiskey drinks are Sazerac, Old Fashioned, Rob Roy, and Mint Julep.
What Can You Not Mix With Whiskey?
Whiskey might be a versatile alcoholic drink that pairs with a wide range of mixers and drinks. But it does not pair well with some drinks like energy drinks, or extracts of any kind including vanilla extract.
Whiskey simply had a bad reaction with these ingredients and is not the best to consume when paired with them.
How Do Beginners Drink Whiskey?
If you’re a beginner at drinking whiskey, you may not necessarily like to have it on the rocks or neat. In that case, you can try having it with some mixers like club soda, Sprite, Mountain Dew, room temperature water, or Coca-Cola.
What Can I Mix With Scotch Whisky?
The best thing you can mix with Scotch whisky is ginger beer or ginger ale. If not that, you can also add club soda, vermouth, orange bitters, or even amaro.
