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How to Make Great Whisky Cocktails

Whisky has so much potential in cocktails beyond its traditional serve and is arguably the spirit with the most diversity of flavour, so the application in mixology is endless. Read on as we delve into the history of whisky cocktails through the years, with four classic whisky cocktails for you to try.

The whisky highball is a really versatile serve with an almost endless combination of ingredients and flavours to suit your personal style, season or venue. Here's a delicious recipe for you to try.

Add toasted rosemary to your Scotch & Soda highball to really bring out the smoky flavours of Johnnie Walker Black Label.

The celebrated history of Whisky Cocktail Culture

Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years and has fallen in and out of favour with customers. Global trends would see the emergence of Tiki Drink culture (1950’s – 60’s) and Disco Drinks (1970’s – 80’s) which welcomed the return to classic cocktail culture. The reignition of a bygone era shone a light on whisky in cocktails again.

The modern bartender, now armed with a multitude of global whisky options, started to experiment with liquids believed to be better suited to that of their historical predecessors. Scotch, and Bourbon were finally having their time in the cocktail spotlight. From Highballs to Manhattans, whisky can be adaptable enough to bring out light fruit, floral notes, to deeper, richer and broodier poached fruit character.

How to create easy whisky cocktails

  1. Play around with the whisky choice – Johnnie Walker Black Label is the greatest all-rounder on your back bar, but get creative with other brands, from smokier malts (Talisker) to softer grain whisky (Haig Club).
  2. Don’t forget the bitters; fruit, chocolate or dark spice bitters are always a great option

Recipe

Method: Stir all ingredients over ice & strain into a child coupette

Garnish: A citrus peel or whisky-soaked cherry

Alcohol Content: 15.5g

A CLASSIC SUMMER COCKTAIL REIMAGINED: A PINA COLADA

Recipe

Method

  1. Measure 40ml Johnnie Walker Black Label into shaker
  2. Measure 60ml pineapple juice and lime juice into shaker
  3. Squeeze in 30ml Coco Lopez and add a pinch of salt into shaker
  4. Add cubed ice to the shaker, shake and strain into an ice filled 455ml highball glass

Garnish: Add pineapple wedge and leaf to garnish

Alcohol Content: 12.8g

AN ICONIC GIN COCKTAIL, MADE DIFFERENTLY: THE NEGRONI

Recipe

Method

  1. Measure 15ml of lacto fermented figs into shaker
  2. Measure 30ml of Italian bitter aperitivo into shaker
  3. Measure 20ml of red vermouth into shaker
  4. Measure 30ml of Johnnie Walker into shaker
  5. Stir gently, and strain into a highball glass over ice
  6. Top with soda water, and stir gently

Alcohol content: 17.8g

MORE WHISKY COCKTAILS PLEASE!

For more whisky inspired cocktails, check out this Little Black Book of Highballs, full of exciting scotch highball recipes to introduce in your bar, including a brand new, exclusive recipe from Miran, Head Bartender as Johnnie Walker Princess Street!

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