Top 10 Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
Whiskey is the backbone to a variety of cocktail recipes. Whether it be a Bourbon, a Rye, a Scotch, or any other variety of Whiskey, it’s a marvelous base spirit to make cocktails with. Whiskey seems to have most of its popularity in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, so a lot of the cocktails below are older than old. But that also means that these are simply great classic cocktails; they’ve stood the test of time for a reason!
If you’re still looking for Whiskey cocktails after checking out our list, why not see all Whiskey cocktail recipes. If you’re still thirsty after that, check out what cocktails you can make with your ingredients. Just input what you have and we’ll tell you what cocktails you can make.
Anyway, here’s our favourite Whiskey cocktails.
Old Fashioned
The cocktail that (probably, maybe?) started it all! The Old Fashioned is a simple cocktail that combines Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Angostura Bitters, and that’s it!
The simple recipe is designed to enhance a good Bourbon without taking away from it. It’s simple but affective.
Try this cocktail with different Bourbons, or even try it with Rye or another variety of Whiskey. It’s great any way you do it.
Whiskey Sour
Although you can make a sour out of almost anything, the Whiskey Sour is probably the most popular sour style cocktail. All it is is Bourbon, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Egg White, and a bit of Angostura Bitters combined for a great drink.
As the name would suggest, this cocktail tastes sour, but it’s balanced by the sugar and the mouthfeel from the egg white. Enjoy!
Manhattan
Another simple, yet classic, Whiskey cocktail recipe. The Manhattan is kind of like a Rye Whiskey Martini combining Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, and Orange Bitters.
Don’t let its simplicity fool you though, this cocktail is simply wonderful. Watch out though, they’re very easy to drink and have a fair amount of Whiskey in them.
Like a lot of simple Whiskey cocktails, play with the Whiskey you’re using and see what you like best.
Rob Roy
If you like a Manhattan, why not try the Rob Roy next? The Rob Roy is variation on the Manhattan that replaces the Rye Whiskey with Scotch Whiskey while keeping the Sweet Vermouth and the Angostura Bitters.
Scotch Whiskey has a very different taste profile to Rye and has a lot of variation of different flavours, so this small change really creates a whole different cocktail.
And before the Scotch purest say it, no, this isn’t wasting perfectly good Scotch. Made well, a Rob Roy is a great way to enhance a Scotch and enjoy it in a whole new way.
Mint Julep
An easy combo of Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Mint, with plenty of ice, makes the Mint Julep and iconic Whiskey cocktail that’s perfect for a hot summer’s day. Make sure you’re using the best Bourbon you can find, as it really comes through in the drink.
Man O’ War
While the Mint Julep is the official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, the Man O’ War is another popular drink for the big race. This cocktail uses Bourbon, Cointreau, Sweet Vermouth, and Lemon Juice to create a Bourbon based cocktail that’s a little more substantial than the Mint Julep.
If you’re having a race day party and want to change things up a bit, whipping up a batch of these will be most welcome.
Improved Whiskey Cocktail
The Improved Whiskey Cocktail builds on the classic Old Fashioned by mixing Bourbon, Maraschino Liqueur, Simple Syrup, Absinthe, Perchaud’s Bitters, and Angostura Bitters to create one hell of a drink.
For lovers of an Old Fashioned, this cocktail creates something else entirely while still having the same vibe. It’s well worth getting the additional ingredients to make one of these.
The Improved Whiskey Cocktail is a classic, despite being a little less simple than some of the others here.
Sazerac
Another riff on the Old Fashioned, the Sazerac includes Rye, Cognac, Simple Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, Angostura Bitters, and a bit of Absinthe. You may have seen traditional versions of this drink made with just Cognac or even other recipes that omit the Cognac altogether. Our recipe uses both to really balance things out.
For Old Fashioned drinkers, this is another cocktail to add to your repertoire of great tasting, easy to make Whiskey cocktails.
Boulvardier
The Boulvardier uses Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari to essentially create a Whiskey based Negroni. Some would even say that this drink is better (and if you like Bourbon, that someone is probably you).
As with a lot of the cocktails on this list, this one couldn’t be easier to make, and it’s certainly a spin on some of the standard flavours you get in these styles.
Blood and Sand Cocktail
The Blood and Sand cocktail is one of the few Scotch based cocktails we have on this list, and because of that it’s probably one of the most versatile. Just mix equal parts Scotch, Cherry Brandy, Sweet Vermouth, and Orange Juice for this drink to see what it’s all about.
After that, try different kinds of Scotch to make a unique drink almost any time.
Enjoy!