How to Make A Perfect Whiskey Cocktail—and 15 Recipes to Get You Inspired
Whiskey expert Stefan Gabányi tells us everything you need to know.
Munich-based bar owner and whiskey expert Stefan Gabányi recently published a new edition of Schumann's Whiskey Lexicon, which he first wrote in 1996, as he says whiskey is evolving and growing in popularity like never before.
"It's a bit of a phenomenon as you usually have a generational gap with spirits—no one wants to drink what their parents are drinking," says Gabányi. "Now there are so many young people drinking it and many more women too, which has especially changed things for whiskey in terms of quality." He notes the innovation and availability of whiskey across the world, particularly when it comes to products from the U.S. and Japan, has made the nearly 700-year-old spirit as modern and vibrant as ever.
"There are so many different characters, aromas, and styles of whiskey these days that only rum can compare, but you don't have as refined of an image of rum yet as you do with whiskey," says Gabányi. "It used to be that scotch was this macho drink for the rich and bourbon was for the poor, but all that has changed, especially as there are now thousands of producers, and America has really done a lot with bourbon to make both appealing to a wide range of people." Some of his favorite American whiskey brands include Knob Creek and Michter's, while he says to keep tabs on a burgeoning German whiskey label, St. Killian. And if you're wanting to explore more whiskey from where the spirit began, Scotland, pick up a bottle of Springbank.
Gabányi says making a perfect whiskey cocktail is all about balance and power. His drinking establishment, Bar Gabányi, puts twists on classic cocktails, like the Manhattan, which he says is a great example of a balanced yet powerful whiskey cocktail, thanks to the addition of vermouth and bitters. He says as craft cocktails have become more popular over the years, whiskey is the perfect spirit to experiment with because it's so versatile and pairs with an abundance of herbs and house-made essences. Get inspired to craft a classic or imaginative whiskey cocktail of your own with these fabulous recipes.
Hunky Dory's Footloose
This beautiful whiskey cocktail from Brooklyn's Hunky Dory employs some of our favorite but lesser-known ingredients, Fiero and rosé vermouth, to bring color and complexity to the libation. You'll also want to stock up on Napa Valley's Matthaisson wines while you're at it, as they are one of our favorite wineries in the region.
Ingredients:
1/2 ounce bourbon
1/2 ounce rosé vermouth
1/2 oz lemon juice
1/2 ounce Strawberry Giffard
1 ounce Martini & Rossi Fiero vermouth
3 ounce Matthiasson white wine
strawberries, for garnish
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice and pour out into a tumbler. Garnish with cut strawberries.
Boulevardier
This classic French cocktail was named after The Boulevardier, a popular literary magazine inspired by The New Yorker, that was founded by American-born writer Erskine Gwynne. It's also known as a bitter Manhattan or a whiskey Negroni.
Ingredients:
1.5 parts Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old
1 part Campari
1 part 1757 Vermouth di Torino Rosso
orange peel, for garnish
Directions:
Stir all ingredients with ice until cold. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel.
Whiskey Smash
A crossover between a Mint Cooler and a Basil Smash, this Whiskey Smash recipe is vibrant and herbaceous, thanks to the addition of lemon and mint—perfect for a hot summer day.
Ingredients:
2 parts The Glenlivet 14YO
¾ part simple syrup
3 lemon wedges
4 mint leaves
mint sprig, for garnish
Directions:
Muddle lemon. Add all ingredients and ice into a shaker. Double-strain into a glass. Add a mint sprig for garnish.
101 Bold Fashioned
Mix up your usual Old Fashioned recipe with Wild Turkey 101, which has a high rye content and brings another layer of depth to this classic cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 parts Wild Turkey 101
1/4 part simple syrup
2 dashes bitters
Directions:
Stir together ingredients. Pour over ice into rocks glass and garnish with orange peel.
Toki Highball
Japan's most iconic whiskey, Suntory Whisky, is ideal for sipping, but we love this bubbly beverage made with Suntory Whisky TOKI, which features a subtly sweet and spicy finish.
Ingredients:
1 part Suntory Whisky TOKI
3 parts chilled premium soda water
grapefruit or lemon peel, for garnish (optional)
Directions:
Fill a highball glass to the brim with ice. Add Suntory Whisky TOKI, stir to cool the whisky and glass, and pour in chilled soda water. Add a twist of grapefruit citrus (optional). Enjoy.
Barista's Old Fashioned
Coffee lovers, this one's for you. Adding coffee liqueur to a classic Old Fashioned recipes makes for a nuttier, richer cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 ounces The Sexton Single Malt
½ ounce coffee liqueur
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Directions:
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until cold. Strain into a Double Old-Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with orange peel.
Black Manhattan
The iconic Manhattan cocktail was a pre-Prohibition favorite that was first published in the 1882 cocktail book, Bartenders Manual. Countless iterations have been created in the libation's nearly 130-year history, and this recipe uses a rye whiskey to bring a crisp, lively taste while the addition of Averna, a type of Sicilian amaro, brings an herbal, citrusy note—and rich color—to the beverage.
Ingredients:
1 part Averna
2 parts Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old
1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Brandied Cherry
Directions:
Stir all ingredients with ice until cold. Strain into a well-chilled coupe. Garnish with a brandied cherry
Rob Roy
Another fantastic pre-Prohibition cocktail, the Rob Roy was created at the then-newly opened Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Essentially a Manhattan made with scotch, it was named for a Broadway musical that was playing nearby in 1894.
Ingredients:
2 ounces Johnnie Walker Red Label
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes aromatic bitters
orange zest and brandied cherry, for garnish
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass and stir well. Strain and serve neat in a cocktail glass. Twist a piece of orange zest over the glass to release the aromatic oils. Garnish with the orange zest and a brandied cherry.
The Golden Hour
This is the perfect cocktail for those who typically prefer lighter spirits. The addition of Lillet Blanc and Aperol energizes the whiskey with fresh, fruity notes and makes for the perfect drink to toast with as the day winds down.
Ingredients:
1 part Basil Hayden’s® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
3⁄4 part Lillet® Blanc
3⁄4 part Aperol® aperitif
Grapefruit peel, for garnish
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until cold. Strain liquid into a chilled cocktail glass and serve up or with a large ice cube. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Gold Rush
This summery beverage uses fresh lemon juice and honey syrup to sweeten up the traditional whiskey sour. Bottled honey syrup is widely available these days, and Monin's is an excellent choice.
Ingredients
1 1/2 parts Bushmills Original Whiskey
1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part honey syrup
4 sprigs fresh mint
Lemon wheel
Directions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10 seconds and strain over fresh ice.
VERANDA's Venetian Old Fashioned
Assistant Photo Editor Ian Palmer is also a cocktail savant, and his Venetian Old Fashioned recipe makes a perfect pairing for our June Sip & Read Book Club pick: Palace of the Drowned.
Get the recipe, here.
Bourbon Bramble
The Bramble is an iconic cocktail created at Fred's Bar in London. Mixologist Dick Bradsell was inspired by childhood memories of picking blackberries on the Isle of Wright, and while it was first famously made with London dry gin, it's now often made with bourbon.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
3/4 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part blackberry liqueur
4 blackberries
5 fresh basil leaves
Directions:
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard. Strain into a glass over ice. Garnish with a basil leaf.
Tyler Brown's Legent Barley Old Fashioned
This complex, citrusy cocktail is a perfect addition to a cozy night in. Barley tea is a toasty, slightly bitter beverage that's a staple in many East Asian countries and is an excellent complement to Legent Bourbon.
Ingredients:
2 parts Legent Bourbon
1 teaspoon Rich Barley Tea Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
2 dashes aromatic bitters
1 dash orange bitters
Scorched Lemon Peel (for garnish)
Barley Tea (Mugicha) Simple Syrup Instructions:
Brew barley tea to instructions on the package. Add tea to a saucepan with sugar, 2 parts sugar to 1 part tea. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.·
Cocktail Instructions:
Add ingredients to mixing glass with ice and stir until cold and combined. Strain into double Old-Fashioned glass over one large ice cube. Top with scorched lemon peel, garnish, and enjoy!
VERANDA's The Golden Lion
Palmer's cocktail is inspired by two classic beverage pairings for curling up with a good book: a cup of black tea or a glass of whiskey. Bourbon and earl grey are utilized here to make one fantastic libation to pair with our August 2020 Sip & Read Book Club Pick: The Lions of Fifth Avenue.
Get the recipe, here.
Lauren Wicks is a Birmingham-based writer covering design trends, must-have products, travel inspiration, and entertaining. She’s obsessed with globally inspired textiles, hosting dinner parties, and French cocktails.
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