Saturday, May 18th is World Whiskey Day, so we’ve put together a list of easy whiskey cocktails to showcase the versatility of this national drink.
World Whiskey Day was established in 2012 by whiskey author and consultant Blair Bowman and falls on the third Saturday in May.
If you’re looking for an affordable drum to celebrate this day, check out our selection. Or why not listen back to the whiskey-themed episode of the Scran podcast?
However, if you want to try your home bartending skills, read on for delicious whiskey cocktails.
highlander negroni
Written by Charlotte Davis, Head Sommelier at Three Chimneys Restaurant
Negronis are traditionally made with gin rather than whiskey, but we’ll make an exception for this particular dram.
Raasay is Skye’s neighbor and just a short ferry ride away.
Isle of Raasay Whiskey is aged in first-fill Tennessee whiskey barrels and finished in first-fill Bordeaux red wine barrels. The whiskey used in this recipe is a limited edition. Lightly peaty and rich with dark fruit flavors, it pairs perfectly with bitter orange Campari and red vermouth.
For 1 person
material:
- Campari 25ml
- Antica Formula 25ml
- 25ml Raasay Hebridean Single Malt (First Release – 2020)
Method:
- Chill by filling an old fashioned glass or rocks glass with ice.
- Add Antica Formula, Campari, and whiskey to a mixing glass.
- Add ice to a mixing glass and begin stirring.
- Once the ingredients are mixed and starting to melt, add some additional ice and continue stirring.
- Strain through a hawthorn strainer and mesh over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel and twist over the glass to create an orange mist.Repeat steps 1-6 as necessary
Sea bass elderflower highball
Chivas Elderflower Highball is a simple, refreshing cocktail made with aromatic elderflower infused with refreshing soda to enhance the flavors of Chivas 12 Year Honey and orchard fruit.
Featuring a delicious Speyside blend, our highballs offer the perfect opportunity to try new flavours. This delicious elderflower serve is the perfect way to start your love affair with whiskey his cocktails.
material
- Sea bass 12 40ml
- Elderflower cordial 15ml
- Soda water 140ml
- Lemon zest (for garnish)
Method
- Place sea bass and cordial in a highball glass and top with ice.
- Add the soda water and stir a little to mix the ingredients.
- If necessary, add another cube of ice to make sure the ice is firm.
- Garnish with lemon zest.
- serve.
Nassean Whiskey 6
Whiskey 6, rumored to be the new, modern way to drink whisky, takes its name from the proportions used in this simple cocktail. It consists of two parts whiskey (we recommend Nesea’s organic whisky, which has citrus, peach, apricot and spice flavors); 4 parts soda water.
material:
- Nasean 2 parts (50ml)
- 4 parts soda water (100ml)
- sprig of mint for garnish
Method:
Fill a glass with ice cubes and add all ingredients.
Stir gently and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
rye old fashioned
Where would a list of whiskey recipes be without the classic Old Fashioned?
The Old Fashioned was the first whiskey cocktail ever invented and is considered the perfect toast for World Whiskey Day.
To take it up a notch, try substituting a dram of the unique Arbikie Highland Rye for the traditional burley whisky.
material
- 50ml Arbikie Highland Rye or other rye whisky.
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- sugar syrup 5ml
- orange peel (for garnish)
Method
- Stir all ingredients together with ice in a mixing container.
- Pour a large block of ice into a rocks glass,
- Garnish with orange zest.
- serve.
bourbon mint julep
A refreshing summer cocktail, the mint julep is perfect with a sweet whiskey like bourbon.
material
- bourbon 60ml
- 1 tablespoon sugar syrup (optional)
- crushed ice
- 10 mint leaves
Garnish: mint sprig
Method
- In a cocktail shaker, shake the bourbon, mint leaves, and sugar syrup with ice.
2. Pour into a highball glass or julep can filled with crushed ice.
3. Gently mix with a long-handled spoon and add ice.
4. Garnish and enjoy.
KC Colada
This vibrant highball-style serve incorporates two of Benromach’s most popular single malts with complementary fresh, fruity ingredients.
Creator Sam Grundy-Glynn, bartender at Bar Swift, commented that he often combines sherry and peat flavors in his whiskey cocktails, and praised Benromach 10 Year Old for its deft balance of both.
material
- Benromach 10 years 20ml
- 20ml Benromach Contrast: Peat Smoke
- Aperol 20ml
- Fresh raspberry syrup 20ml
- 20ml lime juice
- Coco Lopez 40ml
- Apple cider vinegar 5ml
Method
Shake over ice and strain. Enjoy in a highball glass.
