15+ irresistible Whiskey cocktails you need to try

Whiskey cocktails offer bold and intense flavors that create a unique and unforgettable tasting experience. If you're looking for standout cocktail options, these classic whisky cocktail recipes will elevate your home bar experience. Join Red Apron in exploring 15+ simple recipes you can easily make at home.

1. Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 60ml Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
• 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp water
• Orange twist (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add sugar and bitters into a mixing glass. Pour in the water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
2. Add ice, then pour in the whiskey. Stir gently for about 20 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
4. Express the oils from an orange twist over the drink, then drop it in for garnish.

2. Whisky Sour

Ingredients:

• 60ml (2 oz) Whiskey
• 22ml (3/4 oz) fresh lemon juice
• 15–22ml (1/2 to 3/4 oz) simple syrup (adjust to taste)
• Maraschino cherry or lemon peel (for garnish)
• 1 large egg white (optional)

How to Make:

1. Pour whiskey, lemon juice, and syrup into a shaker with ice. (If using egg white, first dry shake all ingredients without ice for 30 seconds, then add ice and shake again.)
2. Shake the mixture well until chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled sour glass or a rocks glass over ice.
4. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry or a twist of lemon peel.

3. Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• 8 mint leaves, plus extra sprigs for garnish
• 15ml (1/2 oz) simple syrup
• 60ml (2 oz) high-proof bourbon
• Crushed ice

How to Make:

1. Muddle the mint leaves with simple syrup in a chilled Julep cup.
2. Add bourbon and a generous amount of crushed ice.
3. Place a bar spoon or swizzle stick into the cup and stir by rubbing it between your hands to mix and chill.
4. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a mint sprig.

4. Whiskey Smash

Ingredients:

• 60ml (4 tbsp) whiskey
• 1/4 lemon, cut into 2 pieces
• 5 large mint leaves
• 30ml (2 tbsp) simple syrup or maple syrup
• Soda water (optional)
• Crushed ice

How to Make:

1. Add mint leaves to a shaker and muddle gently 4–5 times to release the aroma.
2. Add lemon pieces and muddle again.
3. Pour in the whiskey and syrup, then add ice. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain into a glass, top with soda water if desired, and serve over crushed ice.

5. Classic Manhattan

Ingredients:

• 60ml Rye whiskey
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir for 15–20 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a Maraschino cherry.

6. Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 50ml Scotch whisky
• 3 teaspoons honey
• 1 cinnamon stick, halved
• 1 lemon (juice from half, the other half sliced)
• 2 cloves
• 200ml boiling water

How to Make:

1. Stir the Scotch whisky and honey together, then divide evenly between two heatproof glasses.
2. Add half a cinnamon stick to each glass, then pour in the boiling water.
3. Add lemon juice to each glass to taste.
4. Garnish with a lemon slice and a clove in each glass.

7. John Collins

Ingredients:

• 44ml Bourbon whiskey
• 30ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• 59ml soda water
• 1 Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
• 1 orange slice (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Stir the mixture well.
3. Top with soda water.
4. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and an orange slice.

A refreshing bourbon-based drink, perfect for any occasion.

8. Matcha Highball

Ingredients:

• 60ml Japanese whisky
• 15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 15ml honey syrup
• 1/4 tsp matcha powder
• 120ml cold soda water
• 1 lemon slice (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add whisky, lemon juice, honey syrup, and matcha powder into a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.
2. Strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice.
3. Swirl the soda water in the shaker to catch any remaining matcha, then pour into the glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve.

A refreshing fusion of Japanese whisky, matcha, and honey—perfectly bubbly and unique.

9. New York Sour

Ingredients:

• 60ml Bourbon whiskey
• 30ml fresh lemon juice
• 22–30ml simple syrup (or pure maple syrup)
• 30ml dry red wine
• Clear ice
• Lemon twist (optional)

How to Make:

1. Add bourbon, lemon juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well until very cold.
2. Strain into a lowball or Old Fashioned glass filled with clear ice.
3. Carefully float the red wine on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a spoon.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.

10. Vieux Carré

Ingredients:

• 15ml Rye whiskey
• 15ml Cognac
• 15ml sweet vermouth
• 2.5ml Bénédictine liqueur
• 1 dash Peychaud's bitters
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Clear ice (recommended)
• Luxardo cherry or cocktail cherry

How to Make:

1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a lowball glass over clear ice.
3. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.

11. Whiskey Tonic

Ingredients:

• 60ml Irish whiskey
• 120–180ml tonic water (to taste)
• Lemon slice (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in the Irish whiskey.
2. Add tonic water and stir gently.
3. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy.

12. Scotch and Soda

Ingredients:

• 75ml Scotch whisky
• Soda water (e.g., Fever Tree)

How to Make:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in the Scotch. Stir gently to chill.
2. Top with soda water.
3. Stir lightly and enjoy.

13. Toronto

Ingredients:

• 60ml Rye whiskey
• 15ml Fernet-Branca
• 7.5ml simple syrup or pure maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add rye whiskey, Fernet-Branca, syrup, and bitters into a mixing glass.
2. Fill with ice and stir for about 30 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled glass.
4. Garnish with an expressed orange peel.

14. Paris Between the Wars

Ingredients:

• 22.5ml Campari
• 22.5ml blended Scotch whisky
• 15ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• 120ml ice cubes
• 30ml dry sparkling wine (like Cava Brut)
• Lemon peel (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add Campari, Scotch, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice into a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously until well chilled, then strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Top with sparkling wine.
4. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

15. Godfather

Ingredients:

• 45ml blended Scotch whisky
• 15ml Amaretto (an Italian almond-flavored liqueur)
• Lemon peel (for garnish)

How to Make:

1. Add Scotch whisky and Amaretto into a mixing glass with ice, then stir well.
2. Strain into a lowball glass filled with fresh ice. (Optional: add a splash of malt Scotch for extra depth.)
3. Garnish with a twist of lemon and serve.

With over 15 whiskey cocktails recipes shared by Red Apron, you're now fully equipped to craft your own unique and flavorful drinks. These classic whisky cocktail recipes demonstrate the versatility of premium spirits and show you exactly what can i mix with whiskey to create memorable cocktail experiences. Don't hesitate to showcase your mixing skills and create unforgettable cocktail moments!