Whiskey – or Whisky, depending on where you are from – is one of the most well-known and beloved spirits in the world.
Whether you like to sip a whiskey on the porch in the evening time, slug one back after work, or get blasted on a bottle of the stuff, there are many ways and reasons to enjoy this age-old Celtic drink.
People love to drink whiskey straight and that’s fair enough, but there are many recipes that give an entirely new dimension to whiskey with ingredients added that make a delectable drink.
With all these recipes out there, we would like to share with you the 15 Best Whiskey Drink recipes that’ll tingle your taste buds.
Table of Contents
Manhattan Cocktail
For a classic cocktail that can be enjoyed with friends anytime, the Manhattan is an ideal choice. The Manhattan is a simple but highly classic cocktail.
The ingredients are simple: whiskey, bitters, and vermouth.
This drink is the perfect winter warmer, and you can enjoy it hot or cold. In order to make it more interesting, you can add spices to the whiskey, such as cloves, cinnamon, or even allspice.
Old-fashioned
When we think of whiskey, we usually think of a strong beverage that is best enjoyed neat. But what about when you want to enjoy a whiskey with some ice?
That’s what the old-fashioned is all about. The old-fashioned is a whiskey drink that uses the same ingredients as the old-fashioned cocktail.
These ingredients include whiskey, sugar with bitters and water mixed together poured over ice with an orange slice.
Old-Fashioned whiskey drinks are a really nice way to enjoy this whiskey.
The main reason why they are so popular is that they are easy to prepare, and they don’t require too many ingredients.
John Collins
John Collins, a.k.a. The Gentleman’s Drink, is one of the best, if not the best, whiskey drink for summer. It’s a perfect whiskey drink for a warm evening get-together or just a daytime relax.
This drink, created in England for the British, is a simple blend of whiskey, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and soda water.
This whiskey drink is perfect for parties and picnics. Although the original recipe uses gin instead of whiskey, we prefer it with whiskey for the heady flavor.
The best part about making this drink is that you can modify the amount of whiskey, lime juice, and soda water to fit your personal taste.
Irish Coffee
This is probably the most famous whiskey drink, due to it being named after one of whiskey’s homelands.
Made popular by American soldiers in the late 19th century, Irish Coffee is one of the best ways to enjoy whiskey. It’s a simple drink but flavorful.
Irish Coffee is made with Irish whiskey, hot coffee and dissolved sugar, stirred altogether and topped with normal cream or Baileys cream liqueur.
The Irish Coffee is a very popular drink in many countries throughout Europe and the Americas, including the United States, particularly in the western states of the country.
Its simplicity and the ease of making it have made it a favorite that requires no irritation.
Mint Julep
A drink that is as refreshing as it is easy to make, the mint julep is a classic Southern drink that uses bourbon whiskey as its base.
It has served as the marker of any good, warm summer party or outdoor event, and it is a traditional Southern drink that many of the finest in society drink.
Weddings, birthdays, and even football games, if you live in the south, then you will probably see at least one Mint Julep at these events.
The Mint Julep consists of bourbon whiskey mixed with sugar, water, and fresh mint, poured over crushed or shaved ice and another sprig of mint placed on top.
The ease with which it is made has led to a variety of delightful variations that people enjoy around the world.
Highball
The highball is another classic drink that is perfect for enjoying whiskey, and it might be the easiest whiskey drink in the world to make, unless you are drinking whiskey straight, of course.
Highballs use an alcoholic spirit base (normally whiskey) with a non-alcoholic mixer, that is then put in a tall glass with ice.
There are many variations on the classic highball, from the seven and seven to a scotch and soda.
The drink is so versatile that you have limitless combinations and that has made it one of the popular drinks in the US and potentially the world, with even countries like Japan using their own variations – like Suntory and water.
Pickleback
So, a pickleback is an interesting modern take on the classic straight shot of whiskey.
Normally, when you have a shot of whiskey, which is still pretty unusual, you may have a chaser or a diluting drink either with your shot or next to it.
A pickleback takes this to the extreme by having a shot of straight Irish whiskey and pickle brine.
While this may be abhorrent to most people, the extreme difference in flavors really tickles a lot of people’s taste buds.
The whiskey is smoky and sharp, whereas the pickle brine is incredibly sour, making for an interesting combination.
Some people replace the pickle brine with just a sour shot, but you have to at least try it with the brine once.
Lynchburg Lemonade
Lynchburg lemonade is another classic whiskey drink and a Tennessee favorite that takes sour taste to the extreme.
The main ingredients of the Lynchburg lemonade are whiskey, triple sec, lemon and lime soda, lemon juice, lemon slices, and sugar.
The amount of lemons alone in this one drink will make your lips pucker when you taste it for the first time.
However, considering it is from the southern state of Tennessee, a place of bold, smoky barbecues and rich, salty meats, it is the perfect summer accompaniment to the delicious foods that will leave your thirst quenched and you feeling mighty refreshed.
Whiskey Sour
Whiskey Sour is the ideal drink for summer days and the perfect drink for a casual evening with friends, but that doesn’t make one of the ingredients in it any less strange.
While whiskey lends itself to inherently sweet drinks well, the sour twist makes it that much better.
The ingredients of a whiskey sour are whiskey, lemon juice, sugar or sugar syrup, bitters, ice, lemon zest and one egg white, with usually a cherry or an orange for garnish.
Vieux Carre
Right out of the heart of New Orleans and a holdover from the 1930s, the Old Square defines New Orleans as a city in one small glass.
Served in a square glass with equal parts whiskey, cognac, and sweet vermouth, the dashes of bitters and liqueur only add to the intensity of flavor and the garnish of cherries or a lemon twist complete the look.
Very much like a Manhattan will always define New York’s 1930s and the parties that came about then, so too does the Vieux Carre define New Orleans.
Sazerac
Another wonderful drink originating in New Orleans, the Sazerac is a classic drink that gets its distinct taste from the anise-flavored absinthe that is used as a base.
Absinthe was banned in the US in the early 20th century, and the Sazerac is now most commonly served over a cube of ice with just three ingredients: whiskey, bitters, an anise liqueur (like absinthe), and sugar.
Rusty Nail
The Rusty Nail is a whisky drink that has become very popular in the last few years, thanks to the rise of whiskey tastings and the simplicity in its making.
The idea is that the drinker nails a homemade cask (a rusty nail is used for this) with a hammer before attempting to drink the whiskey.
The reason for all this is that it supposedly gives the whiskey an edge that makes it more potent than regular whiskey.
As for the drink itself, you don’t need a cask to make it, only scotch whisky and Drambuie.
Irish Maid
The Irish Maid is actually just a different take on the Kentucky Maid, except instead of Gin, you use Irish whiskey.
This drink is typically made with Irish whiskey, lemon juice, sugar or simple sugar, elderflower liqueur, and club soda.
It has become a popular variant in the US, especially when it gets closer to St Patrick’s Day.
Whiskey Cobbler
When Christmas is over, and you have lots of leftover fruits, or when you picked too many berries at the end of summer, what time is it?
It’s whiskey cobbler time. This simple recipe is considered more a desert drink rather than an actual drink. However, it is still delicious.
All you need is whiskey, any leftover berries or sweet fruits you can cut or squeeze into a glass, and some soda. Mix them all together and voile! Dessert is served.
Algonquin Cocktail
We couldn’t complete this list without one of the most interesting takes on the martini that is around.
The Algonquin cocktail puts a tropical flair on an otherwise dry drink by combining whiskey, dry vermouth, and pineapple juice, into a simple and elegant little drink that cools you on even the most oppressive of summer days.
Conclusion
There are many whiskey drinks around the world that you should try, and almost all of them will wet your whistle in one way or another.
However, it should be noted that the ones on this list are some of the best around.
