Great, refreshing cocktails are ones mixed with whiskey! Find some amazing whiskey cocktails here and learn how to make them at home.
Whiskey is for more than sipping neat.
There are a lot of applications for whiskey, especially when it comes to alcoholic beverages.
While it is not the first liqueur that cocktail enthusiasts turn to when mixing a drink, this spirit should not be ignored.
Whiskey’s flavor works in everything from refreshing sippers to hot drinks that can be spiced up with chocolate, coffee, and more.
There are also tried-and-tested cocktail classics like the Manhattan, Whiskey our, and other modern mixes like the Mango & Strawberry Whiskey Margarita.
If you’re a big whiskey drinker, we’ve gathered 42 whiskey cocktails that will show you just how versatile the liqueur can be.
These cocktails can be served during cocktail hours, as dinner sippers, holidays, parties, celebrations, or as a nightcap.
There are also recipes that you can whip up depending on what you’re feeling.
There are also whiskey cocktails and craft drinks with unique and interesting ingredients.
The list that we’ve prepared includes fruity, sweet, sour, spirit-forward, and spicy cocktails.
It just proves that there’s something for everyone, even those who are still on the fence about this strong and spicy alcohol, as there’s always a time and place for whiskey cocktails.
Check out #10 if you’re looking for a dessert cocktail.
Whiskey Lemonade is a fine choice when you are feeling parched.
With only three ingredients, you can serve it in no time.
You can play alchemist if you like to experiment with different dried herbs aside from fresh rosemary.
2. John Collins
A play on Tom Collins, John Collins Cocktail uses whiskey instead of gin.
Both drinks are made with lemon juice, club soda, and simple syrup, but what sets them apart is the liqueur used, giving John Collins a distinct golden-yellow hue.
This effervescent cocktail is big on citrus flavor, making it a terrific sipper for days when you want something to warm you up.
The sweet nectar of cherries is a complementary mixer for this Whiskey Sour.
The cherries meld flawlessly with the velvety cream body of the cocktail that is crafted from egg white.
You will need a cherry simple syrup to get the fruity flavor of this drink just right.
Share this delicious cocktail with friends and family at your next party or any casual gathering.
Apple Cider Whiskey Smash captures the essence of fall with the right balance of booze.
The recipe takes apple cider and mixes it with whiskey and coconut sugar.
A cinnamon stick is the ultimate garnish for this incredibly tasty cocktail.
Whiskey Highball is a simple, classic, and well-known way to enjoy whiskey.
This cocktail is one that every whiskey lover should know, as it only mixes two ingredients.
You also do not need to do much mixing because the carbonation of the ginger ale or club soda naturally blends in with the alcohol.
Blackberry Whiskey Sour is the stuff that dreams are made of!
It has a touch of elegance and class, featuring gorgeous purplish hues.
This ravishing drink has the flavor to match.
It mixes blackberry juice and liqueur, so the drink is pretty heavy on fruit.
Adding black walnut bitters gives the drink a complementary nutty twist that balances the sweetness.
Smoked Rosemary Whiskey Sour is a unique take on the classic Whiskey Sour.
Using a torch, the rosemary, pecan wood, and lemon twist are carefully burned on a cookie sheet or other non-flammable surface.
This gives off the smoky, charred, sweet taste that you’ve definitely never tasted before.
If you’re looking for a fun, green drink to serve at your next party, this Shamrock Margarita is perfect.
This margarita gives a uniquely American take on an Irish Whiskey cocktail.
Just like a classic margarita, you will need similar ingredients.
The biggest difference between this drink and a classic margarita is that the tequila is replaced with whiskey, and a few drops of green food coloring are added.
There’s something about holidays where it is acceptable to celebrate all day long.
These mimosas are the perfect way to get the party started.
If you are a fan of mimosas, you will certainly love this Irish twist.
Made with only a few ingredients, this cocktail comes together quickly, and you can serve it by the glass or in pitchers to share with the crowd.
Peanut Butter Cup Whiskey Cocktail tastes just like Reese’s peanut butter cup in liquid form and with an alcoholic kick.
The decadence of this cocktail is very arresting.
It has a silky smooth texture and sensational flavor, complementing heavy cream, cocoa liquor, and creme de cocoa.
This cocktail is ideal for birthdays, holidays, and on days when you want a dessert to finish off your meal.
The Classic Whiskey Sour is as simple as you can get in a cocktail.
There’s a base spirit, sugar, water, and citrus element to the drink.
Because of the ingredients, the drink gives a balanced and sweet-tart flavor thanks to the spicy liquor and the acidity of the lemon and simple syrup.
If you love both red wine and whiskey, you don’t need to choose between them.
You can put them together in this amazing Wine and Whiskey Cocktail.
Styled after a New York Sour, this fancy drink combines two liquors that complement each other in terms of flavor.
Wet your whistle with this lush orange crush!
Just like its name, this boozy drink is all about the orange.
The fresh orange juice is mixed with lemon-lime soda and splashed with triple sec for a little zip, all of which taste striking with high-quality whiskey.
14. Sagamore Crush
This whiskey-based Crush variation uses Sagamore, which is produced with spring water from Sagamore Farm in Baltimore County.
It is a thirst-quenching and sweet cocktail that you can serve at brunch with your friends.
Arguably the most famous coffee cocktail out there, there’s a reason that Irish Coffee has stuck around for decades.
This cocktail is basically spiked coffee that will certainly wake you up.
A warming and delicious combination of whiskey, black coffee, and cream makes for an amazing after-dinner cocktail.
16. Psycho Killer
Psycho Killer is a lush, rich, and bold cocktail that consists of creme de cacao, whiskey, and dashes of absinthe.
The cocktail has a chocolatey taste that is not overly sweet, and its licorice and anise flavors do not come through too strongly.
You can make this drink on days when you just want to relax while sipping on something boozy.
17. Irish Buck
Irish Buck combines the bitterness of a Gin and Tonic and the warm spice of a Ginger Ale Highball with a squirt of citrus.
If you are looking for something unique and tasty to serve at your next gathering, Irish Buck is the drink for you.
18. Emerald
This cocktail proves that there are a lot of roads to cocktail bliss.
It is a fine whisky drink that is easy to craft as it is to sip.
While you might expect it to be green, its hue is actually more on the amber side.
Emerald Cocktails can be served at themed parties and brunch.
19. Irish Maid
Irish Maid is similar to a Whisky Smash and calls for muddling cucumbers before mixing the remaining ingredients.
The cocktail is floral and revitalizing, with its burst of aromatics and the cooling sensation of cucumber.
Serve the Irish Maid to your guests at your next backyard barbecue, or enjoy it by yourself on a weekend afternoon.
The Irish Old Fashioned Cocktail is a timeless drink that is the best format for displaying the quality and nuances of whiskey.
Sugar and bitters enhance the cocktail’s individual characteristics, especially when the ingredients are paired with whiskey.
The ice mellows the heat of the alcoholic beverage, while the slow dilution allows for the subtleties to come through.
Since the cocktail has a tinge of sweetness, you don’t need a lot of sweeteners.
Instead of a traditional simple syrup used in other Old Fashioned drinks, this version calls for Benedictine, a herbal liqueur that plays well with whiskey.
This warm whiskey cocktail will surely hit the right spot on a chilly evening.
It has a spiced, buttery finish that offers a real treat for your palate.
The Honey Chamomile Whiskey is a stimulating blend of chilled chamomile tea, lemon, honey, whiskey, and honey bourbon.
It is delightfully crisp and herbaceous, which makes it the best not-too-sweet cocktail for weekend hangouts.
You can serve it with a light meal, on a patio, by the poolside, or as an after-dinner sipper.
23. Man O’ War
Man O’ War Cocktail is a beloved recipe that is made with sweet vermouth and whiskey and is sweetened with orange liqueur and lemon.
You can slightly tweak the recipe according to your taste, and you can serve it straight up or with crushed ice.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour has all the things you want for your cocktail.
It is a complex mix of sour, sweet, and spice that tastes like all seasons combined.
The recipe features an excellent blend of cinnamon and maple syrup with whiskey and a touch of lemon juice.
This whiskey-based cocktail is an incredible egg white Whiskey Sour but with a whole lot of other stuff in it as well.
It is full of flavors with cynar, buttered brown sugar, and allspice dram, all wrapped up in a classic cocktail.
26. Irish Lemonade
Irish Lemonade is a citrusy cocktail with incredible flavor and aroma.
Flavors of simple syrup, whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and ginger beer work well, and a sprig of rosemary is more than just garnish.
The rosemary scent compliments the ginger flavor, and every sip is a fantastic experience from start to finish.
This Irish cocktail is made from a tasty blend of whiskey, peach schnapps, and fruit juice.
It is perfect for holidays or for sipping on a beautiful, warm day.
Rye Whiskey Martini is a mix of whiskey and Italian vermouth, enlivened with a few dashes of aromatic bitters.
It is timeless and tasty, which is the definition of what a cocktail should be.
29. Boulevardier
The Boulevardier is a classic whiskey drink you will love all year round.
With just three ingredients, this cousin of the Negroni cocktail gives a warming sensation and has a wonderfully complex flavor.
This sparkling whiskey cocktail is perfect for parties and weddings.
Just top the glass off with your favorite sparkling wine.
You can choose between cava, prosecco, and champagne, and add lemon for a citrusy twist.
Gold Rush is a classy whiskey cocktail that has a tarty flavor.
It is a modern take on the classic Whiskey Sour, and it uses honey syrup instead of simple syrup.
The honey syrup gives this drink a depth and richness that you can’t get on a classic Whiskey Sour.
The New York Sour Cocktail is a famous variation on the classic Whiskey Sour that floats a layer of red wine on top.
The red wine adds complexity and a fruity acidity to the drink, plus it looks simply pretty with the bright two-toned layer.
If you love Manhattan, you absolutely must try this unique spin on the classic called Brooklyn.
The cocktail uses whiskey, vermouth, and Maraschino liqueur and is named after the Brooklyn neighborhood in New York City, where it first appeared.
It has a semi-sweet cherry-flavored kick that adds a unique twist to the drink.
35. La Louisiane
Do you love spirit-forward cocktails like the Sazerac?
Then La Louisiane is for you.
This cocktail is a lot like a Sazerac, but it has more roundness and complexity in flavors.
It has a herbal kick from Benedictine, light sweetness from vermouth, and a licorice finish from absinthe.
Old Pal Cocktail is a crisp, punchy drink that is sleek and sippable.
It is complex and spirit-forward and is an excellent substitute for Manhattan.
The cocktail pairs bitter Campari with vermouth and whiskey into a drink that is dry, bitter, and spicy all at once.
37. Toronto Cocktail
Do you want a sophisticated whiskey cocktail to impress your guests?
Toronto Cocktail is a fancy spin on the Old Fashioned that features whiskey and Fernet-Branca.
It is alcohol-forward, with a complex, sophisticated, and rich taste.
It balances the earthiness of the whiskey and the bitterness of the Fernet-Branca.
38. Vieux Carre
Vieux Carre, which means “French Quarter” in French, is a strong and smooth cocktail made with two types of bitters.
The complex flavor is ideal for whiskey lovers who want to relax with a slow sipper in hand.
Penicillin Cocktail is ideal for scotch lovers.
This modern classic cocktail highlights the peaty flavor perfectly.
Combining whiskey with honey, lemon, and ginger makes for a sort of high-class version of the Whiskey Sour.
40. Trinidad Sour
Trinidad Sour features the intense, bold botanicals of its bitters and the tangy kick of the simple syrup.
The cocktail is a rick, singular delight that helps balance the herbal intensity of its ingredients.
Celebrate fall with the Fall Rye Whiskey Cocktail.
The great finish of this glass of whiskey is like a warm hug on a cold day.
Mango & Strawberry Whiskey Margarita is a great way to fruit up whiskey.
Each sip is uplifting and relaxing, and you can serve it at brunch or barbecues.
The bottom line
Whiskey is very versatile.
You can pair it with fruits, herbal liqueurs, and other alcoholic drinks.
You can even serve it warm or cold, with garnish or plain, but whatever you decide to do, this spicy spirit can complete your favorite beverages.
42 Amazing Whiskey Cocktails
Great, refreshing cocktails are ones mixed with whiskey! Find some amazing whiskey cocktails and learn how to make them at home.
Ingredients
- Whiskey Lemonade
- John Collins
- Cherry Whiskey Sour
- Apple Cider Whiskey Smash
- Whiskey Highball
- Blackberry Whiskey Sour
- Smoked Rosemary Whiskey Sour
- Shamrock Margarita
- Irish Mimosas
- Peanut Butter Cup Whiskey Cocktail
- Classic Whiskey Sour
- Wine & Whiskey Cocktail
- Orange Whiskey Soda
- Sagamore Crush
- Classic Irish Coffee
- Psycho Killer
- Irish Buck
- Emerald
- Irish Maid
- Irish Old Fashioned Cocktail
- Hot Buttered Whiskey
- Honey Chamomile Whiskey
- Man O’ War
- Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
- Winter Rye Sour Cocktail
- Irish Lemonade
- Irish Sunset Cocktail
- Rye Whiskey Martini
- Boulevardier
- Sparkling Honey Rye Whiskey Cocktail
- Gold Rush Cocktail
- New York Sour Cocktail
- Milk Punch
- Brooklyn Cocktail
- La Louisiane
- Downton Abbey’s Old Pal Cocktail
- Toronto Cocktail
- Vieux Carre
- Penicillin Cocktail
- Trinidad Sour
- Fall Rye Whiskey Cocktail
- Mango & Strawberry Whiskey Margarita
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Whiskey Cocktails.
- Choose the dish you want to recreate.
- Start mixing your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page.