Whisky Sour Cocktails To Sweeten Your Bartending Game

Understanding and appreciating the complexity of whisky is an art in itself. Usually touted as a straightforward alcohol that’s consumed without too many frills attached (on the rocks or with plain water/soda), whisky, when combined with different flavours and textures, can truly impress you with its versatility and ability to combine just right with mixers and other cocktail elements.

The most popular whisky-based cocktail, without a doubt, is the whisky sour. Touted as one of those cocktails that you either really love or really dislike (let’s be honest, raw egg whites are an acquired taste), the whisky sour, while delicious, isn’t for everyone.

So which other whisky-based cocktails exist that can be made with ease? No need to ponder too hard, because we’ve got the answers!

Cocktails always add a fun little twist to one’s drinking experience and these Whisky-based cocktails are sure to do that as well! Read on for the recipes.

Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 60ml whiskey
• One sugar cube
• 2-3 dashes of angostura bitters
• Ice cubes
• Orange peel for garnish (optional but recommended)

Instructions

• Take a lowball Whisky glass and place the sugar cube inside
• Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters onto the sugar cube
• Muddle the sugar cube with the bitters until dissolved
• Fill the glass with ice cubes
• Pour the whiskey over the ice
• Stir gently to combine
• Garnish with an orange peel twist

Manhattan

Ingredients

• 30ml Johnnie Walker Black or Blue
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry for garnish (optional but recommended)
• Ice cubes

Instructions

• Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
• Pour the Johnnie Walker Black or Blue whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters into the glass.
• Stir well until chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass or over fresh ice in a lowball rocks glass.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Whisky Smash

Ingredients

• 60ml Johnnie Walker Double Black
• 4-6 fresh mint leaves
• 15ml simple syrup
• Half a lemon, cut into wedges
• Ice cubes

Instructions

• Muddle the fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges along with the simple syrup in a cocktail shaker
• Add the Johnnie Walker Double Black whiskey and ice cubes to the shaker.
• Shake well until chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a lowball rocks glass that’s filled with ice.
• Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Penicillin

Ingredients

• 50ml Johnnie Walker Blue or Double Black Whisky
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• 20ml honey syrup (equal parts water and honey)
• 10ml Singleton 12, 15, or 18 y.o single malt whisky
• Candied ginger for garnish (optional)
• Ice cubes

Instructions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
• Pour the Johnnie Walker Blue or Double Black whisky, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup into the shaker.
• Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a lowball rocks glass that’s filled with ice.
• Float the Singleton 12, 15 or 18 y.o Single Malt Scotch Whisky on top.
• Garnish with a piece of candied ginger 

Rob Roy

Ingredients

• 30ml Johnnie Walker Black or Blonde
• 30ml sweet vermouth
• Dash of Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry for garnish (optional but recommended)
• Ice cubes

Instructions

• Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
• Pour in the Johnnie Walker Black/Blonde whisky, sweet vermouth, and a dash of Angostura bitters.
• Stir well until chilled.
• Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass or over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Godfather

Ingredients

• 40 ml Johnnie Walker Blue or Gold
• 20ml amaretto liqueur
• Ice cubes

Instructions

• Fill a lowball rocks glass with ice cubes.
• Pour in the Johnnie Walker Blue or Gold Scotch Whisky and amaretto liqueur.
• Stir gently to combine.

Summing Up

Whisky cocktails occupy a special place in the beverage world and as long as they are consumed responsibly, whisky-based cocktails can be a gamechanger for dark spirit drinkers!