5 Classic Whisky Cocktails In The Arsenal Of Every Good Home Host

In mixology, certain cocktails which occupy a prominent place for the taste and textural nuance they embody are drinks that use whisky as their base. The smoky, spicy and simultaneously caramel-like notes that blended whiskies bring into drinks lend them a very deep tasting note that compliments the sour and tangy flavours of cocktail mixers used to prepare these concoctions. 

Simultaneously, the introduction of sweeter whiskies like bourbon or rye into these blends brings forth a fresh quality and a more complex tasting note which turns simple cocktails into much more sophisticated blends. Evidently, mastering certain classic whisky cocktails can come in handy to a mixology enthusiast fond of entertaining guests at home.

Read on below to know more about some of the classic whisky cocktails that can be prepared for formal dinners or for those evening when guests come calling unexpectedly so you can play the good host:

Old Fashioned

One of the oldest and most iconic cocktails to emerge within mixology, the old fashioned is named quite appropriately. It simply brings together 30 ml good quality bourbon or rye whisky with a sugar cube and a couple of dashes of citrus bitters, all brought together with a few drops of water. Garnished with orange zest, this drink has pronounced bitter, citrusy and very subtly sweet qualities, which are as elegant as whisky cocktails can get.

Check the Recipe Out: Talisker Old Fashioned

Manhattan

A drink which can well be distantly related to the old fashioned, the manhattan cocktail is known as much for its flavour as for its deep orangish hue. With origins in 1870s New York – no surprise there, as its name suggests – the manhattan contains 30 ml good quality rye or bourbon whisky brought together with 2-3 dashes of bitters and about 15 ml sweet vermouth. The drink is finished off with a brandied cherry garnish which lends it a surprisingly sweet element that builds into its overall complexity.

Also Read: Classic Wine Cocktail Inspired Mocktails: 5 Easy Drinks To Explore

Whisky Sour

Another classic whisky cocktail which has its origins in the 19th century, the whisky sour is now a staple among mixologists practicing the art of blending drinks. This drink brings together 30 ml bourbon with about 25 ml fresh lime juice and 10 ml simple syrup with a little bit of ice. What makes the cocktail stand out is an egg white foam that lends the drink much density and highlights the tangy and tart notes inherent to the blend. A classic whisky sour when made well can level-up the overall feel of any home hosting gathering which offers this drink.

Check the Recipe Out: Perfect Whisky Sour

Classic Highball

The concept of a highball essentially refers to any drink which is composed of one part spirit topped off with a couple of parts of a carbonated mixer served in a tall glass over ice. One of the most common highball cocktails is of course, the whisky highball which brings together 30 ml premium quality blended whisky with about 90 ml Black Dog soda or any other carbonated soda of choice to bring forth light and sparkling notes which can compliment a sumptuous dinner.

Check the Recipe Out: The Smokey Talisker Highball

Mint Julep

A classic drink with origins in Kentucky, the mint julep brings together 30 ml good quality bourbon with about 15 ml simple syrup and lots of crushed ice. What builds flavour into this drink is the crisp, spicy effect of lots of mint leaves that lend the cocktail a fresh finish. Such a drink with sweet, bourbon-forward notes is an excellent blend for evening time gatherings hosted in summer weather.

Check the Recipe Out: Black Dog Mint Julep