Three Essential Whisky Cocktail Recipes for The Whisky Lover

Cocktails are a mix of beverages thrown together to create the perfect blend that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, week or year. A good batch of cocktails can make or break your summer barbeque, Sunday brunch or just a chilled out evening with friends. But making a good cocktail is an art and only a true artist can get the proportions right every time. If you’re thinking of having people over for a fancy dinner, date or simply to for a good time you can never go wrong with a good batch of scotch and whisky cocktails to go with the food.

Here are some recipes for some of the most classic scotch and whisky cocktails that everyone should know.

1.       Whisky Sour – You’ve probably already seen some of your favourite movie characters enjoying one of these in one iconic scene or another. Here’s how you can whip them up at home.

Recipe: Fill a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Pour in 50ml blended whisky or scotch, 20ml lemon juice and 20ml sugar syrup. Shake, shake, shake and serve.

Quick tip: Strain the cocktail before serving and add a slice of lime and or a cherry to the glass to give it a sweet and sour twist.

 

2.       Old Fashioned – Made famous by Don Draper from the critically acclaimed Mad Men, these drinks will instantly transport your mind to a simpler time. Here’s the recipe.

Recipe: Place a sugar cube in your glass and douse in with some bitters of your choice. Add a splash of water to it and let the sugar cube melt. Add 50 ml of blended scotch whisky to the mix along with some ice cubes.

Quick tip: Take a strip of orange peel and rub it all over the rim of your glass allowing the juice to mix with your drink, drop the peel into your drink for added flavour.

 

3.       The Blood and Sand – This cocktail takes its name from the famous 1922 bullfighter movie Blood and Sand. The red colour from the wine and the orange of the juice give it the look of blood and sand. 

Recipe: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 30ml Scotch, 20ml of cherry liqueur, 20ml red wine or fortified wine and 20ml orange juice. Shake, shake, shake and serve.

Quick tip: Do not use cherry brandy instead of cherry liqueur. Use orange zest instead of orange slice to garnish.