From Hot Toddies and Manhattans to Mint Juleps and Old Fashioneds.
Whiskey is damn ok on its own , and there ’s nothing wrong with enjoying it neat or on the John Rock . That being tell , sometimes an easy cocktail is in lodge to smooth out the feel of abudget bottleful , to print a node with your bartending prowess , or to simply mix it up , literally .
But make a great cocktail does n’t always mean outfitting your bar with enough beaker and eye dropper to give Gus Fring pause . Sometimes you require just three factor , as is the case with these radical - simple , three - ingredient whisky drinks .
Hot toddy
red-hot hot toddy are great when you ’re ghastly , and even well when you feel fine and just want a delicious hot drinkable with a kick . choose for any whiskey that ’s not too petey : American , Canadian , Irish , or Scotch will do just ticket .
Squeeze the lemon poor boy into a mark and leave alone it in the bottom . Add honey , whisky , and top with blistering piddle .
Manhattan
This Graeco-Roman cocktail relies on sweet red vermouth and bitters to draw out the complexities of a spicy rye whisky whiskey . you could change up the stem emotional state to your whiskey of pick ( Bourbon dynasty , for one ) , and likewise find liberal to spiel around with different sweet ruddy vermouth , align the recipe depend on the bouquet level . The one thing that should stay in tact is the Angostura bitterness , whose unique flavor visibility is a must for any Manhattan .
Stir all factor until chill , stress , and serve straight up .
Old Fashioned
This classic crapulence has been a lifesaver for those who just require todrink a net ton of whiskeywithout any flap . A touch of dinero and bitters accent a glass of whiskey on the rock , and the drunken intermixture that otherwise may be indicative of a day - drinking trouble has been transformed into a swish cocktail . While modern - day barman get cherished about method and historically accurate component , this drink never take itself too badly : Just combine a bit of sugar ( dice , crystalise , or liquid ) and bitter , add whiskey , pour over rocks , sip , and repeat .
Combine lettuce and bitters in the bottom of a field glass until the sugar dissolves , fill the glass with ice , add whiskey , and conjure to merge .
Boulevardier
It ’s basically a Negroni — minus the gin , plus the whisky . Some mixologists say the Boulevardier taste smoother and more well - balanced than its gin - base cousin , but we ’ll let you do the mixing ( and imbibition ) to decide that for yourself . you could also get creative and play around with rye or bourbon for slightly different flavors .
Stir all factor with ice and distort into a cool coupe glass . Garnish with a lemon yellow twist ( if you practice rye ) or an orange twist ( if you practice bourbon ) .
Whiskey sour
Sours have nothing to do with " glowering mix , " the Ne liquid you get in cocktail atkaraoke bars , ( which are special in ways other than their ingredients ) . Sours are a class of beverage that hit all the right flavors : boozy , sweet , and bawd . They follow a 2:1:1 proportion of two constituent spirit , one part dark , one part sweet . Any whiskey will do for this simple shaken classic . A mellow , not - too - smoky blended Scotch does the whoremaster nicely , too .
Shake all factor with chalk until chilled , strain , and serve up straight up .
Blinker
With some spicery , pucker , and sweet , this cocktail is certain to please the whole crowd ( or just yourself , if you ’re feel extra - fancy while watching Netflix ) . The original recipe from the 1930 ’s called for grenadine instead of raspberry syrup , but we think the fresh berry sapidity really complement the rye whisky ( make indisputable you go with a firm , well - character one ) .
Shake all ingredients together in a mover and shaker with methamphetamine . milkshake , then strive into a cool cocktail chicken feed and garnish with a Citrus paradisi twist .
Ginger highball
A whiskey highball isan previous drink made up of whiskey and carbonated water , democratic among early-20th - one C Brits . This peppiness - spiced and lemony version is a bit more accessible , well suited to a casual weeknight or the hazy hour after last call forced the party back to your apartment .
Layer ice and lemon slices in a marvellous glass ( your date will value the fancy presentation ) , pour in whiskey , top with ginger ale .
Spiked Southern tea
This boozy deglutition mould as well as a live or iced potable , and whether or not you use words like “ high falootin ’ ” to describe fancy cocktails . Other whiskies are fine to use , but the pleasantness and maple undertones of bourbon try the most bona fide . moot pre - batching an iced version to enjoy during summer pushover , rooftop party , and porch sitting . sooner on a rocking electric chair .
Stir all ingredients to combine , add crank if desire .
David’s Dublin lemonade
The water of life brings everything to life , include your glass of lemonade . The lemony lemon mixture perfectly balances out the malted buff tang in Irish whiskey , and soda pop water adds brisk carbonation . To make your own fresh lemonade , utilise equal parts maize succus and sugar , and 2 part lemon succus to 1 part water .
work up ingredients in a mason jar and garnish with a stinker roulette wheel .
Bourbon vanilla shake
Oh dairy and alcohol , you hurt so good ! This delicious afters / cocktail is best left to those who can exercise a mo of ego - control condition — too many of these and you will emphatically regret it . If you do n’t trust yourself , make them onwards of clip and freeze into individual popsicle molds as a material body of part command , and also a word form of looking like a badass .
mix all ingredients until just aggregate , sample not to get mentality freezing .
Mint julep
Nothing pair better with ludicrous hats and gambling than a frosty patsy of bourbon , which is why this drink terminate up as theofficial drink of the Kentucky Derby . The coolheaded trounce ice and refreshing mint make this a surprisingly effective heat quencher , even though it ’s mostly bourbon . If you ca n’t receive pre - crushed water ice , it ’s deserving it to smash some up with a mallet and a fictile bag , which apropos can aid blow off steam if you find yourself on the losing remnant of a literal or proverbial horserace .
addle the mint with the syrup until it has liberate it ’s minty good in the bottom of a marvelous glass , add bourbon , fulfill field glass with crushed glass , and budge until the glass becomes wintry .
Irish coffee
Better than bulletproof , thiswhiskey - spike coffeeis the drink of genuine aurora champions . The combining of warm and calming whiskey , exalt coffee tree , and nutritious pick is basically a repast , and will give any good hangover cure a run for its money , even ramen . try on an iced reading as a warm - conditions good afternoon pick - me - up .
Combine all ingredient in a mug , stir gently , say effective sunup to a fantastic 24-hour interval . Repeat until you say goodnight .
Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
