The whisky world is very vast and still expanding, and whisky based-cocktails are very popular among people these days. For making a good whisky cocktail, it should be well balanced of spirit, and with other ingredients.
There are many styles of whisky, and each adds its own taste to the mixed drink. Today we will have a look at some best whisky-based cocktails and their ingredient.
1. Whisky sour
Whisky sour is a whisky-based cocktail, one of the oldest classic cocktails. It is made with whisky (bourbon), lemon juice, sugar, and egg white. But today the egg white is optional, and it’s common to find bars serving Whiskey Sours without egg white.
Ingredient
- 2 oz bourbon
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz egg white (optional)
Glassware: Old-fashioned glass
Garnish: Maraschino cherry and half orange slice
2. Mint julep
Mint julep is a bourbon whisky-based cocktail, traditionally made with mint leaf, bourbon whisky, simple syrup, and crushed ice.
First, mint juleps were often served in silver or pewter cups and held only by the bottom and top edges of the cup. This allows frost to form on the outside of the cup, but now mint julep is served in a highball, collins, and old-fashioned glass
Ingredient
- 8 to 10 mint leaves
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Highball, Old-fashioned
Recommended reading: 5 basic methods of making cocktails with examples
3. Whisky highball
Highball whisky is a very simple whisky-based cocktail made with whisky, soda water, or ginger ale. Highballs are popular in Japan, often made with Japanese whisky as a haibōru. It is basically referred to as the practice of serving drinks in tall glasses.
Ingredient
- 2 oz whiskey
- 4 to 6 oz ginger ale, or club soda, to taste
4. Old-fashioned
Old-fashioned is one of the popular bourbon whisky-based cocktails, was invented in Louisville. It is made with bourbon whisky, sugar, bitters, and water.
Ingredient
- 45 ml Bourbon or Rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube
- A few dashes of Angostura bitters
- Few dashes of plain water
Method: Stirring
5. Rusty nail
Rusty Nail is a scotch whisky-based cocktail, made with scotch whisky, and Drambuie. Rusty nail is often served in Old-fashioned glass on the rock over the ice. If it is served without ice called a “Straight Up Nail”.
Ingredient
- 1 measure scotch whisky
- 1 measure Drambuie
Method: Build
Glassware: Old-fashioned
Garnish: Lemon zest
6. Affinity
Affinity is also a scotch whisky-based cocktail and similar to Manhattan Perfect. People often take this drink after dinner.
For more about Affinity Go here
Ingredient
- 1/3 oz scotch
- 1/3 oz dry vermouth
- 1/3 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 Dashes of Angostura bitters
Method: Stir
Glassware: Cocktail glass
7. Aggravation
Aggravation is a combination of scotch whisky, Kahlua, and fresh cream, these three together make the drink unique. It is very similar to white Russian.
Ingredient
- 4/10 oz scotch whisky
- 3/10 oz Kahlua
- 3/10 oz fresh cream
Method: Shaking
Glassware: Cocktail glass
Garnish: Grated nutmeg
8. Black jack
Black Jack is a rich cocktail combination of whisky, coffee liqueur (Kahlua), and Cointreau.
Ingredient
- 1/3 oz scotch whisky
- 1/3 oz Kahlua
- 1/3 oz Cointreau
- 1 dash of lemon juice
Method: Shake
Glassware: Cocktail glass
9. Manhattan
Manhattan is a simple and very popular cocktail in the world, it was invented in New York City’s Manhattan Club. It is made with rye whisky, sweet vermouth, and angostura bitter, garnished traditionally with a maraschino cherry. There are two other versions of the Manhattan cocktail, Manhattan (dry), and Manhattan (perfect).
Ingredient
- 2/3 oz rye whisky
- 1/3 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 dash angostura bitters
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Cocktail glass
Garnish: Maraschino cherry
10. Manhattan (dry)
- 2/3 oz rye whisky
- 1/3 oz dry vermouth
- 1 dash angostura bitters
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Cocktail glass
Garnish: Maraschino cherry
11. Manhattan (perfect)
Manhattan Perfect is referring not to a cocktail made perfectly, but rather to the use of two different styles of vermouth in a cocktail. It is made with rye whisky, dry vermouth, and sweet vermouth equally.
Ingredient
- 2/3 oz rye whisky
- 1/6 oz dry vermouth
- 1/6 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Cocktail glass
Garnish: Maraschino cherry
12. Evans
Evans is a whisky-based cocktail, basically, rye whisky is used. It is a combination of rye whisky, apricot brandy, and orange curacao.
Ingredient
- 8/10 oz rye whisky
- 1/10 oz apricot brandy
- 1/10 oz orange curacao
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Cocktail glass
13. Embassy royal
Embassy Royal is a bourbon whisky-based cocktail, made with Drambuie, sweet vermouth, orange squash, or fresh orange juice.
Ingredient
- 1/2 oz bourbon whisky
- 1/4 oz Drambuie
- 1/4 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of orange squash
Method: Shaking
Glassware: Cocktail glass
Garnish: Lemon zest twist
14. Godfather
Godfather is a blended scotch whisky-based cocktail, the origin is uncertain, people say that the drink is named after the popular, Oscar-winning film “The Godfather.” The drink is made with blended scotch whisky and amaretto, it is served with ice in an old-fashioned glass.
Ingredient
- 2/3 oz scotch whisky
- 1/3 oz amaretto
Method: Building
Glassware: Old-fashioned glass
15. Millionaire
The millionaire is a traditional sour that arose during Prohibition. The drink is a combination of rye whisky, grenadine, egg white, pastis, and orange curacao.
Ingredient
- 2/3 oz rye whisky
- 1/3 oz grenadine
- 1 egg white
- 2 dashes orange curacao
- 1 dash pastis
Method: Shake
Glassware: Cocktail glass
16. Temptation
Temptation is a whisky-based cocktail made with rye whisky, orange curacao, and pastis.
Ingredients
- 7/10 oz rye whisky
- 1/10 oz orange curacao
- 1/10 oz pastis
- 1/10 oz dubonnet
Method: Shaking
Glassware: Cocktail glass
17. Old nick
Old Nick is a rye whisky-based cocktail made with rye whisky, Drambuie, orange juice, bitters, and lemon juice served in a cocktail glass.
Ingredient
- 1/2 oz rye whisky
- 1/4 oz Drambuie
- 1/8 oz orange juice
- 1/8 oz lemon juice
- dash of orange bitters
Method: Shaking
Glassware: Cocktail glass
18. Opening
Opening is a basically sweet aromatic whisky-based cocktail, containing of rye whisky, sweet vermouth, and grenadine.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz rye whisky
- 1/4 oz sweet vermouth
- 1/4 oz grenadine
Method: Stirring
Glassware: Cocktail glass
19. Hot toddy
- 2 oz scotch whisky
- 1 bar spoon demerara sugar or honey
- 2 oz hot water
- A small piece of cinnamon stick
Method: String
Glassware: Irish coffee mug or other mug
Recommended reading: 5 basic methods of making cocktails with examples