Popular Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
There are countless great whiskey recipes but here are a few of the classics you should try!
- Irish Coffee
- Manhattan
- Mint Julep
- Old Fashioned
- Rob Roy
- Rusty Nail
- Sazerac
- Whiskey Sour
Irish Coffee Instructions:
- 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger Irish cream liqueur
- 1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger Irish whiskey
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon whipped cream
- 1 dash ground nutmeg
Combine Irish cream liqueur and Irish whiskey in a glass mug; pour in hot brewed coffee. Top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg.
Manhattan Instructions:
- 1 cup ice cubes, or as needed
- ½ fluid ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 fluid ounces of rye or bourbon whiskey
- 1 dash bitters
- 1 high-end Amarena or Maraschino garnish cherry
Gather all ingredients. Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Pour in vermouth, then whiskey. Stir, then strain into a cocktail glass. Add bitters. Garnish with cherry.
Mint Julep Instructions:
- 8 mint leaves
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 2 fluid ounces bourbon
- Garnish: mint spring
- Garnish: Angostura bitters (optional)
In a Julep cup or rocks glass, lightly muddle the mint leaves in the simple syrup. Add the bourbon then pack the glass tightly with crushed ice. Stir until the cup is frosted on the outside. Top with more crushed ice to form an ice dome, and garnish with a mint sprig and a few drops of bitters (optional).
Old Fashioned Instructions:
The old fashioned is a classic cocktail that was invented in Louisville, KY. You can make it with bourbon, rye, or a blended whiskey. You can also substitute one sugar cube for the simple syrup.
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 (1.5 fluid ounces) jigger bourbon
- 2 dashes bitters
- 1 slice orange
- 1 high-end Amarena or Maraschino cherry
Gather all ingredients. Pour simple syrup, water, and bitters into a whiskey glass; stir to combine. Add ice cubes and pour in bourbon. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Rob Roy Instructions:
- 2 ounces scotch
- 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Garnish: brandied cherries
Add the scotch, sweet vermouth and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora or cocktail glass. Garnish with speared brandied cherries.
Rusty Nail Instructions:
- 1 1/2 ounces scotch
- 3/4 ounce Drambuie
Add the scotch and Drambuie into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
The Sazerac is a cousin to the Old Fashioned and New Orleans favorite. It’s unique due to the anise/licorice flavor of absinthe used as a glass rinse.
Sazarac Instructions:
- Absinthe, to rinse
- 1 sugar cube
- 1/2 teaspoon cold water
- 4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 2 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
- Garnish: lemon peel
Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe, discarding any excess, and set aside. In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube, water and the Peychaud’s bitters. Add the rye whiskey, fill the mixing glass with ice and stir 15–20 seconds, until well-chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Twist the lemon peel over the drink’s surface to express the peel’s oils, then garnish with the peel.
Whiskey Sour Instructions:
- 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 dash bitters
- ½ orange wheel and cherry for garnish
Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds. Garnish with half orange wheel and cherry.
These are just a few of the popular whiskey drinks enjoyed world-wide. Submit your favorite drink recipies to support@whiskeyshelf.app to be included here!