Now that you’ve got the basic tools and ingredients for bartending, it’s time to try out some recipes. What better way to start than with the beloved liquor, whisky? Made of fermented grain mash, whisky is most commonly served on the rocks or neat. This enables the drinker to fully appreciate its flavors. You would think that the richness of whisky would not bode well when mixed with other ingredients. However, there are a number of classic cocktails which feature whisky. Practice your at-home bartending skills with the following whisky cocktail recipes that every bartender should know!
The musts
The following whisky cocktails are ones that are useful to have in your arsenal. Whether you’re making yourself a nightcap or hosting a get together, mastering these recipes will make you the star of the party.
Old fashioned
Nothing says classic like an old fashioned. This cocktail is just the right amount of sweet, added with a little bit of fizz.
To make an old fashioned, you’ll need:
- Whisky or bourbon
- Sugar or sugar syrup
- Bitters
- Soda water
- Water
- Ice
- Orange slice
In an old fashioned glass, add in water, bitters, and sugar, and stir well. Then, add in your ice, whisky, and soda water. Stir the drink again, and top with an orange slice for garnish.
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
Whisky sour
This cocktail pairs the acidity in lemon juice with the natural sweetness of whisky, balancing the flavors out perfectly. The best thing is, it only takes 3 minutes to make!
Ingredients you’ll need are:
- Whisky
- Simple syrup
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Maraschino cherries
- Before anything else, chill a short glass in the freezer. While waiting, add whisky, ice, simple syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker. You can play around with the ratio of each ingredient according to preference.
- Shake well and strain the drink into the chilled glass. If you didn’t chill the glass, you can also use fresh ice and pour the drink over it.
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
Mint julep
Mint julep exclusively uses bourbon. Some bars will choose to present this drink in silver cups or tins, and you can definitely do the same.
What you’ll need for your mint julep:
- Bourbon
- Sugar or simple syrup
- Crushed ice
- Mint leaves
Important note: use crushed ice – not ice cubes or shaved ice.
- Add mint leaves and sugar or simple syrup into your cup. Crush the ingredients together with a muddler. This helps release the aromas in the mint leaves and also mix its oils well with the sugar.
- Pour bourbon over your crushed ingredients, and fill the glass the rest of the way with crushed ice. Stir well, and garnish with more mint leaves.
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
Manhattan
First introduced in the 1870’s at The Manhattan Club in New York, this drink is possibly one of the oldest cocktails. Bartenders recommend using rye whisky for this one.
To fashion your own Manhattan, you’ll need:
- Rye whisky
- Sweet red vermouth
- Bitters
- Cherry
This is one of the easiest cocktails to make. All you need to do is add all the ingredients together in a cocktail glass, stir, and garnish with a cherry.
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
Sazerac
For a strong punch, try this next drink. Originating in New Orleans in the 1800’s, the Sazerac elevates the tastes in rye whisky with its alcoholic counterparts.
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Rye whisky
- Absinthe or anise liqueur
- Bitters
- Sugar cube
- Lemon twist
- Add ice into an old fashioned glass and let it chill in the fridge. While waiting, use your muddler to crush bitters and sugar cubes in a separate glass.
- Pour rye whisky over the bitters and sugar, then grab your chilled glass and remove the ice. Rinse the glass using absinthe, and pour in your whisky mix into the chilled glass.
- Squeeze a lemon twist into the drink before placing it on the glass’s rim for garnish.
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
Tom & Jerry
Options for warm alcoholic drinks are few and far between. The Tom & Jerry is just one of a handful of cocktails best served warm. It’s like a hug on a cold day, and is great during the holidays.
This drink takes a lengthier time to make, but it’s definitely worth it! First, make a batter using:
- Dark rum
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Pure vanilla extract
- Sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Cream of tartar
- Separate your egg whites from the yolk in separate bowls. Into the egg white bowl, add cream of tartar and use a mixer to whip it until you get stiff peaks.
- Into the egg yolk bowl, add your butter and sugar and whip until it turns into liquid. Then, fold this mixture into your egg white mixture.
- Add the spices and rum into the batter and stir until everything is incorporated well. Store in the fridge while you make the drink.
For the drink, you’ll need:
- The batter you just made
- Brandy or cognac
- Dark rum
- Hot milk or hot water
- Grated nutmeg
- First, preheat the mugs so that the drink will be extra warm. Then, add in a tablespoon or two of batter in each glass.
- Pour an ounce of brandy and dark rum over the batter, and top the glass the rest of the way with hot milk or hot water, depending on preference. Stir well until you get a nice foam on the surface of the drink.
- Grate some nutmeg over the drink for garnish, and voila!
Ingredients available at minuman.com:
