Mixology

26 Charming Whiskey Cocktails for a Sophisticated 2024

by: Kristy Bowen

Last Updated on Oct 1st 2024

What are popular whiskey cocktails? What mixes best with whiskey? Whiskey comes in a number of varieties manufactured in distilleries all over the globe, including classic Irish whiskey, Tennessee rye whiskey and old Kentucky bourbon. As such, there are many unique whiskey cocktails and combinations from around the world. From sweet and tangy whiskey cocktails to stronger, simpler ones, there are plenty to choose from. Sometimes, you've just got to let the whiskey take a front seat.

What is the best way to drink whiskey cocktails? Shaken, over ice, or neat? The answer depends on the kind of drink. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite popular options for whiskey cocktails that suit all sorts of occasions, from creamy holiday drinks like eggnog to summertime icy blends that are the best cocktails for the front porch. If you're more into bourbon, we have another great list of bourbon cocktails for you to try.

Classic Whiskey Cocktails

1. Old Fashioned

One of the most popular whiskey cocktails served today, this drink has its beginnings in the 18th century, when it was called an “Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail” in Europe. While different countries have slight variations, the base is a mix of whiskey, angostura bitters and simple syrup.

Today, you can find Old Fashioned recipes with all sorts of different flavor profiles, including fruity and elaborately flavored drinks as well as more classic variations. Many are served with an orange garnish that can be muddled with the syrup for a rich citrus flavor. To learn all the variations of this cocktail, try enrolling in an online mixology class or checking out mixology classes in your region, including classes in mixology classes in Miami or mixology classes in Washington D.C. These classes also make amazing gifts for cocktail lovers.

2. Manhattan

Appearing as early as the late 1800s in New York City when it was published in The New York Letter. This whiskey cocktail mixed bourbon or rye whiskey with sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters. You can also add a dose of orange flavoring with orange liqueurs like Cointreau and Grand Marnier.

3. Whiskey Sour

Another one of the most popular classic whiskey cocktails today, whiskey sours are a larger overarching category of drinks that mix bourbon or rye whiskey with a sour citrus base made sweeter by the addition of simple syrup or sugar. First appearing in a recipe book in 1862, the original version mixed lemon juice, sugar and an egg white with the whiskey, though most often it's made without the egg today.

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4. Highball

What is a whiskey-based classic cocktail called? Believed to be a reference to the tall glasses that these classic whiskey cocktails are served in, highballs are any mix of bourbon or rye whiskey with a long pour of ginger ale or club soda. It's occasionally used to describe any drink in a tall glass that mixes soda with whiskey with a heavier proportion of soda to alcohol. The cocktail is served over ice and can be sweet or more tangy depending on the variety of soda you use.

5. Hot Toddy

These holiday and winter classic whiskey cocktails are served hot and are believed to have originated with a similar Indian drink called tadi made from fermented sugar. The British took the idea back to the U.K. where it became what we know as the hot toddy. This warm and cozy drink mixes hot water and lemon juice, along with bourbon, whiskey or brandy.

Simple Whiskey Cocktails

6. Whiskey & Coke

One of the simplest whiskey cocktails (you probably already have the ingredients at home), this flavor combination depends wholly on the mix of sweet soda and the variety of whiskey, with some whiskey boasting more smoky flavors (like Jack Daniels) and others more sweet or mild (Makers Mark or Jameson). To learn more about the particular flavors of various whiskeys, try taking a mixology class, which will expose you to many different labels and flavors. Find mixology classes in Chicago and mixology classes in Jacksonville, for example.

7. Bourbon Lemonade

Whip up a batch of your favorite lemonade and add some bourbon for a great summertime relaxation drink that you can serve over ice or in a large pitcher. It can range from sweeter to more sour depending on how much sugar to add to the lemonade itself. You can also vary the ratio of whiskey to lemonade to make a milder concoction or a drink with a lot of kick.

8. Cranberry and Whiskey

One of the simplest, yet sweetest whiskey cocktails, you can enjoy it any time of year. This popular tart combination is a perfect match, with cranberry’s sweet tanginess serving as a great accompaniment to any variety of bourbon or whiskey. You can also make a simple punch using cranberry juice, lemon-lime soda and whiskey that is a perfect holiday drink for the best Thanksgiving cocktails or Christmas cocktails.

9. Kentucky Sweet Tea

For another one of the simpler whiskey cocktails that's perfect for Summertime, make a pitcher of classic southern-style sweet tea and add some bourbon. This combination is very refreshing and easy to make from scratch on a budget for large numbers of revelers.

10. Whiskey & Tonic

These whiskey cocktails really allow you to taste all the subtlety of your whiskey choice, whether it be rye whiskey, scotch or bourbon. This is due to the lack of interference of other flavors that usually accompany whiskey mixed drinks. Serve over ice or neat at room temperature to fully experience the flavor of the whiskey. You can also substitute club soda for a classic scotch whiskey cocktail. You can do the same thing with one of the most classic gin cocktails — the gin and tonic.

Sweet Whiskey Cocktails

11. Irish Coffee

A popular and caffeinated treat, this is one of the sweetest Irish whiskey cocktails and is served hot. It mixes Irish whiskey with strong, hot coffee for a simple combo that you can top with whipped cream. There are also many ways to customize the basic recipe, including adding cream liqueurs and other flavored liqueurs, like Baileys Irish Cream, to sweeten it up. You can also make an iced, blended version if you cool down the coffee first.

12. Eggnog

One of the most popular Christmas cocktails, this one can be served with or without alcohol, though many people tend to flavor theirs with whiskey (though brandy and rum cocktails are other common options). While store bought mixes are a common approach that you can just add your booze to, you can easily make this popular drink from scratch using a mix of egg yolks, sugar, milk and creme with a dash each of nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.

13. Maple Bourbon Smash

One of many recipes for bourbon cocktails, this fall-friendly version brings in the sweet flavor of maple syrup. Blend whiskey and syrup with orange juice, lemon juice, bitters and a dash of seltzer to add a little fizz to the whiskey cocktail. The smashing comes in the crushing of the oranges with a muddler to release their flavor.

14. Mint Julep

Often associated with the famed Kentucky Derby and around since the mid-1800s, this southern sweet whiskey cocktail is a favorite for Summertime sipping, blending bourbon with sugar, muddled mint leaves and crushed ice. These whiskey cocktails are often served in a chilled silver julep cup.

15. Scofflaw

These whiskey cocktails, which take their name from the American prohibition era, actually have Parisian roots. Created in the 1920s when Harry’s New York Bar, a spot popular among American expats (and is still around today!) hosted a contest to create the perfect American cocktail. The resulting cocktail mixes bourbon or rye whiskey with sweet vermouth and grenadine, a syrup created from pomegranates.

Unique Whiskey Cocktails

16. Sazerac

Another one of the famous New Orleans-based unique whiskey cocktails, the Sazerac is often compared to an old fashioned, but this particular version is famous in the city for using locally made Sazerac rye whiskey. It also involves giving the inside of your glass a quick rinse with absinthe before muddling together the bitters with a sugar cube and filling the glass with whiskey and ice. Garnish with a lemon twist and peel.

17. Vieux Carre

Created at the Carousel Bar at the famous Hotel Monteleone, this New Orleans classic cocktail is a blend of Sazerac rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth and both Peychaud and angostura bitters served with a lemon twist garnish in a small glass over ice. It is still one of the most often ordered unique whiskey cocktails at the hotel.

19. The Algonquin

This New York original drink is believed to have involved pineapple juice because of its ability to hide the imperfection of badly made or smuggled-in rye whiskey during the Prohibition era. The juice still mixes with today’s whiskeys well with a blend of sweet and tart flavors. Minted at the Algonquin hotel in the Jazz age, it blends the rye whiskey and pineapple with dry vermouth and a garnish of pineapple or cherries.

20. Irish Maid

This unique cocktail mixes bourbon with muddled cucumbers to create a refreshing cocktail. It also includes elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, angostura bitters and lemon. Serve it over ice with a cucumber slice garnish for one of the most unique whiskey cocktails.

Fruity Whiskey Cocktails

21. Blackberry Smash

This sweet and fruity whiskey cocktail owes its flavor to muddled lemon, blackberries and mint leaves that are combined with bourbon and simple syrup to add sweetness. Shake with ice and then serve over more ice garnished with mint for a refreshing drink perfect for any time of year.

22. Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This fruity whiskey cocktail takes its fun inspiration from the famous dessert by adding cinnamon and nutmeg, which give the mixture a nutty cake-like flavor. Mix up a Pineapple Upside Down Cake cocktail with bourbon, fresh or canned pineapple juice, lemon juice and a single egg white to add a thicker consistency to the drink.

23. Southern Peach Cocktail

This refreshing mix of bourbon, peach puree and sweet tea is a Southern classic flavor combination, melding these primary ingredients with lemon juice, simple syrup and aperol for sweet finish. Serve over lots of ice with a sprig of time or apple slice as a garnish.

24. Fireball Cider

This Fall cocktail is perfect for the colder months when apples are in season. It mixes fresh apple cider with cinnamon flavored whisky served over ice. For a garnish, dip the rim of your glass in crushed cinnamon candy like Red Hots and serve chilled for the perfect fruity whiskey cocktail. This combination makes a perfect Thanksgiving cocktail.

25. Watermelon Sling

These whiskey cocktails are perfect for summertime dining and gatherings like the 4th of July. They expertly blend bourbon with watermelon juice, simple syrup, lemon juice and soda water for a sparkling drink that is best served over lots of ice. Garnish it with a rosemary sprig or a lemon wheel.

26. Bourbon Passion Fruit

Sweet and boozy, these whiskey cocktails combine sweet passion fruit juice and bourbon with cane syrup, lime juice and orange juice. Finish off with ginger ale to add some fizziness. The sweetness of the passion fruit is an excellent complement to the whiskey that makes this mild-flavored cocktail refreshing.

These whiskey cocktails are perfect for your next celebration in cocktail party attire or just a casual night in sweats at home alone or during a virtual happy hour. From sweet and fruity to tangy and smoky, there's a perfect whiskey cocktail recipe waiting to be explored.

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