Craft the perfect Cocktail
Learn to mix like a pro! From timeless classics to modern twists, we’ve got the most popular recipes, mixers, and tips to craft your perfect whiskey cocktail.
Classic cocktails
Timeless recipes that never age.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Russell's Reserve 6 Year Old Rye
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 2 oz Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 2 oz Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ginger beer (to top)
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Balance in whiskey cocktails
A great cocktail is all about balancing sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and aromatics. Here's how to get it right.
Balances sour and bitter flavors, adding depth and richness.
- Syrups: Simple syrup, honey syrup, agave nectar, maple syrup, grenadine
- Liqueurs: Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Amaretto, Chambord, St-Germain
- Fruits: Muddled berries, pineapple juice, mango puree
- Other: Sweet vermouth, fortified wines (e.g., sherry, port), coconut cream
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caramel
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vanilla
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sweet
Appearance / Color
Iridescent Beige
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The aroma is sweet with tons of vanilla and caramel.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
The flavor follows the aroma with a very rich and decadent "melted ice cream" palate.
Finish
The finish is like dessert at the adult table.
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orange zest
-
marmalade
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blossom
Appearance / Color
Ruddy Amber
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The aroma is filled with notes of flamed orange zest and marmalade.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
The flavor profile is exactly as you think it should be — brilliant, powerful notes of orange essence and orange blossom honey over a base of rich French Cognac.
Finish
Taken neat the finish is long and deeply aromatic.
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roasted coffee beans
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dark chocolate
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caramel
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orange
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fragrant
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agave
Appearance / Color
Dark copper.
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Chamomile and anise, oak and wet sage.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Rich, luscious mouth-feel with complex herbal and floral notes.
Finish
Smooth, subtle, and soothing.
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sugar
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peach
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sweet fruit
Medium Amber.
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The aroma is packed with orange zest, peach, baking spices, and Bourbon.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
The flavor profile is creamy, sweet, and full of ripe fruits and Bourbon vanilla.
Finish
The finish lingers with sugar and spice.
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cherry
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sweet
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grassy
Nearly Clear
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The aroma of sweet and bitter cherries and fresh grasses is all that there is.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Taken neat, the palate is perfectly sweet and light with the essence of cherry in every sip.
Finish
The finish is sweet and fresh.
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almond
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apricot
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caramel
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orange
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citrus
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vanilla
Pro Tip
Cocktail too strong or sharp? Add sweetness to balance it out. Maple syrup complements bourbon, honey syrup enhances rye.
How much sweetness? Start small and taste as you go. Whiskey’s sweetness often requires less added sugar than other spirits.
Adds complexity and ties flavors together, balancing sweetness.
- Cocktail bitters: Angostura, Peychaud’s, orange bitters, chocolate bitters
- Amaro: Campari, Aperol, Fernet-Branca, Cynar
- Herbal liqueurs: Chartreuse, Benedictine, Jägermeister
- Other: Coffee, cacao nibs, hops-infused syrups
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bitter
-
herbs
-
sweet
Appearance / Color
Dark brown
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Fresh and slightly sweet
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Bitter and complex with all 6 notes combined in a sum greater than its parts.
Finish
Refreshing and minty
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anise
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cherry
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floral
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lemon
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tea
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honey
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liquorice
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juniper
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orange
Appearance / Color
Dark brown
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Liquorice, orange, myrtle
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Bittersweet with juniper berries, oranges, lemons, liquorice, rosemary, sage
Finish
Bittersweet
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floral
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citrus
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liquorice
Appearance / Color
Dark brown
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Floral and citrus-forward.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Perfectly balanced flavors of liquorice, peppermint, and orange.
Finish
Distinct
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herbs
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fresh
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citrus
Appearance / Color
Dark amber
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Herbal and fresh
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Well-balanced with distinct citrus and floral flavors.
Finish
Slightly bitter-sweet
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herbs
-
smooth
-
fruit
Appearance / Color
Dark amber
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Pleasantly herbal.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Perfectly balanced, smooth, fruity, and rounded with sweet oranges, bitter notes, artemisia, cinnamon, coriander.
Finish
Pleasantly bitter-sweet.
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floral
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orange
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cinnamon
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spicy
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bitter
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sweet
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herbs
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floral
-
spicy
Appearance / Color
Chartreuse Green
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The aroma is herbaceous and floral with hints of exotic spices.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
The flavor profile is both exceptionally unique and complex with layer upon layer of blooming flavors from mint and Za’atar to wildflowers and cinnamon.
Finish
The finish is long, pungent and herbal.
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herbs
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sweet
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honey
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fruit
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floral
-
herbs
Appearance / Color
Deep Black
Nose / Aroma / Smell
The fragrance is deeply complex with layer upon layer of fruits, florals, and herbals over an earthy sweetness.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Unlike anything else, it has flavor elements from Vermouth and Absinth underpinning notes of rose water, elderflower, blueberry cobbler, and sandalwood.
Finish
The finish is long, herbal, and lightly sweet.
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herbal
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peaty
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sweet
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fruit
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vegetal
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bitter
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eucalyptus
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tobacco
-
grassy
Pro Tip
Cocktail too sweet? Add a few dashes of bitters for balance. Angostura for Old Fashioneds, orange bitters for Manhattans.
Want to enhance whiskey’s depth? Pair it with bitter liqueurs like amaro or Campari. Think of a Boulevardier’s bold, bittersweet flavor.
Adds brightness and contrast, cutting through sweetness and richness.
- Citrus juices: Lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit
- Vinegar-based shrubs: Apple cider vinegar shrub, berry shrub
- Fruits: Tart cherries, green apple, passionfruit
- Other: Tamarind paste, yogurt (for creamy sours)
Pro Tip
Whiskey very rich? Use lemon or orange juice to balance it and brighten the drink. Think of a lemon’s role in a Whiskey Sour.
Too much acidity? Use grapefruit juice or a vinegar-based shrub to add complexity without masking the whiskey’s flavor.
Enhances the sensory experience through smell and visual appeal.
- Garnishes: Citrus peels (lemon, orange, grapefruit), fresh herbs (mint, basil, rosemary), edible flowers
- Infusions: Smoked rosemary, cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods
- Mists: Absinthe spray, orange blossom water, rose water
- Other: Grated nutmeg, star anise, dehydrated citrus wheels
Pro Tip
Elevate the aroma! Express orange or lemon peel oils over the drink to enhance whiskey’s natural citrus and spice notes.
What garnish works best? Use warm aromatics like cinnamon, star anise, or smoked rosemary to complement whiskey’s rich, oaky flavors.
Happy Hour Sips
Light, bright and perfect for easy-going vibes.
Ingredients
2 oz Minden Mill Nevada Straight Bourbon
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
¼ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz honey syrup
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Ron Carúpano 18 Reserva Limitada
- 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
- 2 dashes of Bitters
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 2 oz Nikka Days Blended Whisky
- 4 oz chilled soda water
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tullamore D.E.W. Original Irish Whiskey
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Ginger beer (to top)
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Bold & boozy cocktails
Shake up your night with drinks that pack a punch!
Ingredients
- 3/4 oz Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
- 3/4 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3/4 oz Averna Amaro
- 3/4 oz Aperol
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Crown Royal Chocolate Flavored Whisky
- 1 bar spoon simple syrup
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Ingredients
- 1 ½ parts Courvoisier VSOP
- ¾ part lemon juice
- ¾ part triple sec
How to make
Tips & Tricks
Bottled cocktails
Kickstart any gathering in seconds.
This bottled Old Fashioned features a palate-liberating blend of American rye whiskeys, Caribbean rum, organic ginger, and custom bitters.
A revolutionary ready-to-drink Irish-American Manhattan blends three rye whiskeys, two Irish whiskeys, bitters, and cherry juice.
A Kentucky Derby classic, now ready to gallop from the bottle to your glass in record time.