What To Mix With Whiskey
Are you getting slightly bored with drinking whiskey with a water chaser? It might be time to experiment with whiskey mixers.
There are several mixers that can turn a pretty bland whiskey into a delicious drink that will have you coming back for more.
In this post Ill share some of the best whiskey mixers.
The Best Fireball Whisky Cocktail Recipes
Love it or hate it, Fireball is a force in the beverage space. Its spicy cinnamon flavor is instantly recognizable and has captured the hearts and palates of Americans and Canadians alike. Since its uptick in popularity in the 2010s, Fireball has found its way into Disney World desserts, Thanksgiving staples, and cocktails of all sorts.
From summery beverages paired best with oceanside adventures to winter sippers to warm you from the inside out, read on for 12 of the best Fireball Whisky cocktails updated for 2021!
Learn How To Craft The Kind Of Whiskey Drinks That Will Make You A Masterful Home Bartender
Apart from a homemade Irish coffee, what other drinks can whiskey enhance? This spirit can be added to almost any type of cocktail and works well with a whole slew of mixersfrom syrups and fruit juices to kombucha. Its time to grab your cocktail shaker and start playing mixologist with these unexpected whiskey drinks. Just getting started? Here are 7 essential items that should be in every home bar.
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Goodnight Irene See You In My Dreams
Goodnight Irene is the perfect nightcapfilled with flavor but lower in alcohol than another glass of the terrific whiskey at its base . Sipping with a slightly bitter herbaceousness, hints of almond, and a touch of sweet raisin, its guaranteed to keep you singing well after last call! Jackson Cannon, bar director of Eastern Standard and The Hawthorne
Ingredients:
1 oz. Knappogue Castle 16 Year
1 oz. Lustau East India Sherry
1 oz. Cynar
Method: Stir over ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with lemon oil.
Kelsey Fain
The Luck Of The Irish Is In These Flavorful Whiskey Drinks
The Spruce Eats / S& C Design Studios
Irish whiskey is smooth and creates impressive drinks. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or you’re simply a fan of this style of whiskey, there are many great cocktail recipes to try.
While there are tried and true favorites like the Irish coffee, Irish whiskey is surprisingly versatile. From refreshing highballs to short sour drinks, and fancy martinis to fruity delights, it’s time to rethink what’s possible with Irish whiskey.
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The History Of The Whiskey Sour
The recipe for a Whiskey Sour first appeared in print in 1862, in a book called The Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas. But according to some cocktail historians, sailors invented the Whiskey Sour!
In the past, sailors were given an allowance for spirits and citrus . Put them together add a little sugar, and you have a Whiskey Sour!
It’s also possible that the Whiskey Sour is just a scaled-down version of a punch, designed to serve just one. Punches predate cocktails by quite a while, but if you look at old punch recipes, you’ll notice the basic structure of a Whiskey Sour: base spirit, citrus, and sweetener.
However the Whiskey Sour came to be, when you drink one, you can be sure you’re part of a long and proud tradition!
Understanding The Difference Between Sweet And Dry Vermouth
If your basic cocktail recipe was a party, it would work something like this: a bottle of gin, tequila, or whiskey actually throws the party big-mouth guests like Campari, mint, and Absinthe make a lot of noise around the karaoke machine and bottles of vermouth dry and sweet bring a bunch of snacks but end up hanging out quietly on the couch for most of the night. A reliable guest, but no party animal.
Thats not to say vermouth isnt interesting. If you sit down next to vermouth at the party, youre almost guaranteed to have a complex, layered conversation despite the fact that Campari just cued up the Les Mis soundtrack on the Karaoke Master 3000. Vermouth is actually incredibly generous with flavor, but its complexity makes it more of a backbone/background component to cocktails . And that applies whether youre talking about sweet or dry vermouth.
Of course, chances are youre not talking about sweet or dry vermouth, precisely because theyre background players. Sure, you might see vermouths splayed across cocktail menus, and youre maybe vaguely aware that theyre key supporting players in some of your favorite classic cocktails . But youre probably not discussing the merits of sweet vs. dry vs. white vermouth with your imbibing friends the same way you might discuss oaky Chardonnay or hyper-hopped IPA.
drop!
Header image via Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com
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High West Cobbler: The Payroll Train
Its been said that the cobbler was the most popular cocktail in the 19th centuryone that incorporated fresh fruit, sherry, or spirits. The low ABV of a cobbler and its ability to be refreshing is what allows you to drink it over a longer period of time without the effects you may normally experience from a high-alcohol cocktail. Crushed ice is key to a good cobbler. You can get crushed ice out of your ice machine at home but if you have pebble ice it will take longer to melt. A good cheat here would be to go to Sonic and buy a bag of their ice to-go. Ive done this many times before and its also great for a backyard get-together. Steve Walton, beverage director at High West Saloon
Ingredients:
0.5 oz. High West Double Rye
1.5 oz. Oloroso
0.5 oz. Amaro CioCiaro
0.25 oz. Smith & Cross rum
Method: Short shake, strain over crushed ice, and garnish with berries and mint.
Casey Robinson
A Complete Well Drink List: 19 Essential Recipes
Well drinks range in flavor and complexity. Some are simple one-liquor-one-soda combinations while others are more complex . While experienced bartenders will have a well drinks list and recipes committed to memory, new bartenders may need some guidance. Heres a list of 19 essential well drinks and their recipe information to get the party started.
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Apple Cider And Whiskey
Apple cider is a fantastic mixer for bourbon whiskey as it adds plenty of acidity, tartness, and freshness to a drink.
The zesty flavor of apple cider complements the vanilla and caramel flavors in the whiskey beautifully.
While apple cider and whiskey is usually consumed on ice, it can also be heated, which makes for a very comforting drink in the cooler months.
To make apple cider with whiskey:
Dreamy Dorini Smoky Martini
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog
This cocktail by bar pro Audrey Saunders of the late Pegu Club and other seminal cocktail bars, is essentially an upgraded Smoky Martini. Saunders version is a riff on a Vodka Martini, replacing the usual dry vermouth with an Islay scotch whisky and adding a dash of Pernod. Its a dreamy Martini variation, indeed.
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A Complete Well Drinks List And Guide
Vodka soda.
Gin and tonic.
On any given day at any liquor-licensed restaurant, youll hear these drinks ordered again and again.
Though your well drinks list may be simple, these basic beverage ingredients are the unsung heroes of the bar. Theyre not listed on the menu, but theyre always in high demand. Theyre quick to make and have high profit margins. If well drinks are great for business with little effort, imagine what they could mean for business with some creativity.
Were here to shine the light on the importance of well drinks to help you maximize their potential at your bar or restaurant. In this well drink guide youll learn:
- What is a well drink
- The benefits of serving well drinks at your restaurant or bar
- How to maximize your well drinks list
- Recipes for 19 classic well drinks
Which Scotch Is The Smoothest
Best Smooth Scotch Johnnie Walker Red Label. Grangestone 12 Yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky . Balvenie 12 Yr Double Wood. Carlyle Blended Scotch Whisky . Shieldaig Speyside Single Malt 12Yr. Johnnie Walker Double Black. Glen Ness Single Malt Scotch Whisky . 4.0 / 5 stars Grangestone Sherry Finish. 4.0 / 5 stars
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Peach Juice And Whiskey
This fruity, spicy, and refreshing combination is ideal for a warm summer afternoon. The sweetness of the peach is balanced by the oak and malty flavors of the whiskey.
You can make peach juice and whiskey using the same formula as apple cider and whiskey. You can also enjoy peach juice and whiskey by making a Bourbon Peach Smash:
Guide: 10 Classic Cocktails
Cocktail menus vary depending on where youre ordering. A chain restaurant might offer one or two recognizable cocktails plus a few wild innovations that may taste a lot like fruit punch or a chocolate milkshake . Serious cocktail bars, on the other hand, might have just a few options, many of them unrecognizablecocktails invented by the bartenders on staff that are no doubt delicious but maybe harder to compare to anything youve had.
Fortunately theres a lot of middle ground, familiar drinks that exist pretty much anywhere a bar is decently stocked. And, of course, these days a lot of cocktail bars are eager to guide you to the right choice , either with cocktail menus arranged by style or by encouraging an old school interaction between patron and bartender. A bespoke cocktail bar is actually built around this model, with cocktails made to order per guest preference.
But even if service is a lot more interactive these days, its always helpful to go out there with a rough knowledge of cocktail classics for reference. Not only are these drinks among the standards that any bartender knows, but if you like something about any of them, you can probably find something similar, or construct something new with the help of your local barkeep:
Popular Spirits
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Dr Pepper Or Cherry Coca
I have decided to add both of these to the same section because, in my experience, Dr pepper and cherry coke can taste very similar.
Im not recommending these as a substitute for Coca-Cola or Pepsi in fact, these two mixers make for great mixers on their own.
If you want to try something new and you want to add different flavors to a whiskey drink, I highly recommend trying the Dr pepper or Cherry Coca-Cola mixers at least once.
Not only will these two drinks add a different dynamic in terms of flavor, but they will also hide the harsh undertones of certain whiskeys.
How To Make A Dr. Pepper And Whiskey drink
- 2 shots of whiskey in a long glass
- Lots of ice
- Top it up with Dr. Pepper.
- Add a cherry on top.
- Do not stir it and if you do, make sure you do it lightly.
How To Make A Cherry Coke And Whiskey Drink
- 2 shots of whiskey in a long glass
- Lots of ice
- Top it up with Cherry Coke.
- Add a cherry on top as an added touch.
- Do not stir it and if you do, make sure you do it lightly.
How To Pair Mixers With Alcohol
Tonic gives a hint of bitterness to either gin or vodka.Seltzer water adds sparkle to a heavy drink and body to flavored vodkas for a light, low-key sipper.Cola is a classic, and goes equally well with whiskey as it does with rum. Ginger ale and ginger beer go well with bourbon and blended whiskey. If you like it sweet, use ginger ale–for more spice, use ginger beer.Lemon-lime soda, though a little sweet, is a good beginner’s introduction to whiskey drinks and works well in fruity punches.Grapefruit soda mixes perfectly with tequila and a pinch of salt.Orange juice works with gin, vodka and rum freshly-squeezed adds another layer of texture and flavor.Grapefruit juice is better with gin than vodka, as the florals of gin and the sharpness of the juice complement each other nicely and is always a great match with rum and tequila.Lime juice is the prime ingredient in sour mix bottled, sweetened lime juice is perfect with gin.Cranberry juice works well with vodka and orange liqueur it also gives the cosmopolitan its signature red color.
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How To Maximize Your Well Drink List
Give your well drinks some TLC to turn them into money-making machines. Here are four ways to make the most of your well drinks list.
1. Give your well drinks special names. A vodka tonic could be Spiked Soda while a Tequila Sunrise could be Cancun in a Cup. Rebrand your well drinks with memorable names to make them seem like more than well drinks. This means that you can get away with charging more for them while still keeping prices below premium craft cocktails on your menu.
2. Dress them up. A drink in a plastic cup isnt as memorable! Make your well drinks stand out by giving them garnishes like mint leaves and citrus wedges, pouring them into special glasses , or using fresh squeezed juices. Make sure to hire a barback to assist bartenders and keep garnish ingredients fresh no one likes wilted herbs in their drinks!
3. Happier hour. Pair your well drinks list with premium food items during happy hour to upsell more expensive items on your menu. For example, your restaurant may charge $8 for a well drink and $15 for a premium sushi roll. The premium rolls have high profit margins for your business, but theyre rarely ordered because your customers choose cheaper options. During happy hour, you could pair a well drink with a premium sushi roll and offer both for a discount both for $20 instead of $23. This kind of promotion gets customers to try more expensive items on your menu in the hopes that theyll want to pay full price next time.
Does Coke Go With Whiskey
A Whiskey and Coke is exactly what it sounds like: a simple two-ingredient cocktail comprised of whiskey and Coke . Its typically served in a rocks glass or Collins glass with ice. The drink is a popular call at bars, since you can get a Whiskey and Coke just about anywhere. Its also an easy cocktail to make at home.
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Scotch Fans Have A Lot To Love In This List Of Cocktails Both Modern And Classic
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog
The first half of this list is bartenders choice cocktails, contemporary creations that come straight from the cocktail shakers of todays top bartenders. The second half is classics, both pre-Prohibition standards and more modern ones that have achieved worldwide acclaim. Youre sure to find something for every palate among these 20 drinks.
Known for its status as the ultimate neat sipper, Scotch whisky is surprisingly versatile in cocktails, too, when paired with the right ingredients. Whether youre keeping it simple with a Scotch & Soda, looking to try something new and fruity like the Cunningham or want a spin on a classic like the Whisky in Church, theres a scotch cocktail to please every drinkers wishes.
Apple Cider Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
This must be taken drink when the temperature is low because this is a warm drink. Are you having a party tonight? Want to impress the guests with your presentation? Then take the glass to apply some peanut butter on the rim, and dip it in sugar made of cinnamon. Now time for the drink pour some peanut butter whiskey into the glass on the top of it add some warm apple cider vinegar. Put some apple slices into the drink and garnish it with a cinnamon stick. It is ready to be served now.
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Holiday Peanut Butter Whiskey Balls
These yummy whiskey balls are the output we get when we mix peanut butter whiskey, peanut butter, sugar, honey, cocoa which is unsweetened, kosher salt, peanut, and finally vanilla wafers.
Now add peanuts which are chopped finely into vanilla wafer crumbs in a bowl. It is time to stir these with all the other ingredients leaving out sugar and cocoa powder. Make balls out of the mixture of the ingredients and roll them on sugar and cocoa powder. These balls are a must-try when you are bored of having the whiskey routinely.
Ginger Ale Or Ginger Beer
Ginger ale is a refreshing drink that pairs well with Jameson Whiskey. I
t adds a lovely zing and sweetness to the flavor of a drink and helps some of the floral notes of the whiskey shine.
If you want to try a ginger mixer with Jameson, try this simple Jameson, Ginger & Lime cocktail:
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