9 Easiest Whiskey Cocktail Recipes

Create easy whiskey cocktails that everyone will love. Find hassle-free recipes and tips from Cocktails at Home now!

Whiskey - or more often Bourbon - is often overlooked when it comes to cocktails, but such a great spirit makes for such great cocktails. We've compiled a list of our 10 favourite recipes that are relatively easy to make at home. Don't fancy mixing them yourself? Try one our whiskey pre-mixed bottled cocktails here

Old Fashioned

The most famous whiskey cocktail. The Old Fashioned calls for not much else other than bourbon, making this one of the most spirited cocktails there is. If sipping whiskey is your thing, then this is a cocktail for you.

• 60ml Bourbon
• 1tsp Sugar
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Muddle the sugar and bitters with a splash of water in a stirring glass until the granules are dissolved. Add the bourbon with lots of ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with an XL Ice Cube. Garnish with an orange peel.

Boulevardier

The Boulevardier is the cousin of the infamous Negroni. Strong and bitter but instead of Gin we're going to use bourbon for a touch more sweetness and more depth in flavour.

• 25ml Bourbon
• 25ml Sweet Vermouth
• 25ml Bitter Apéritif

Add all the ingredients to a stirring glass with lots of ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with an XL Ice Cube. Garnish with an orange peel.

Penicillin

A Penicillin cocktail, not too unlike the drug, also has a medicinal feel about it. The lemon, honey and ginger almost makes this feel healthy. Try it for yourself...

• 50ml Scotch Whiskey
• 20ml Lemon Juice
• 20ml Honey
• 2-3 small slices of fresh Ginger

Muddle the ginger in a cocktail shaker before adding the remaining ingredients and a handful of ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds before straining into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a lemon peel. Need a cocktail shaker? Get your premium branded cocktail shaker here.

Rusty Nail

The origins of the Rusty Nail - although made popular in the 1950's by New York's Club 21 - date back nearly two decades earlier. Feel free to adjust the ratio of Drambuie to make this cocktail more or less sweet as desired.

• 45ml Scotch Whiskey
• 25ml Drambuie Liqueur

Add all the ingredients to a stirring glass with lots of ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with an XL Ice Cube. Garnish with an orange peel.

Mint Julep

A southern American classic. The Mint Julep dives deep into the cocktail history books, dating back as far as the 17th Century where it was 'prescribed' to ill patients. Nowadays you'll find this refreshing drink on any cocktail menu across the southern states.

• 60ml Bourbon
• Handful of Mint Leaves
• 1tsp Sugar

Add all the ingredients to a tumbler and will with crushed ice. Using a napkin to prevent spillage, churn the drink vigorously for 10 seconds. Garnish with a sprig of mint. And don't forget the straw!

Hot Toddy

Most likely you've tried a non-alcoholic version of this at some point if you've ever had the flu. This hot drink is also perfect for a late nap cap during cold winter months.

• 50ml Bourbon
• 25ml Lemon Juice
• 25ml Honey
• Boiled Water
• Whole spices such as Cinnamon and Clove to preference

Add all the ingredients to a mug of your choice and fill with boiled water. Garnish with a lemon peel.

Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour is one of the more popular derivatives of the 'sour' cocktail. providing that classic sweet and sour flavour with the wonderful addition of bourbon. Try floating a small amount of red wine such as a Shiraz or Malbec on top to make a New York Sour.

• 50ml Bourbon
• 25ml Lemon Juice
• 20ml 1:1 sugar syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1/2 an Egg White

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake hard for 10 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a lemon wheel and cocktail cherry.

Godfather

The origin of The Godfather is unknown, however legend claims is was the favourite cocktail of American Actor Marlon Brando, known for playing the lead character in the film, The Godfather.

• 30ml Amaretto 
• 30ml Scotch Whiskey

Add all the ingredients to a stirring glass with lots of ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with an XL Ice Cube.

Manhattan

A world famous cocktail with a great depth of history, supposedly originating at New Yorks Manhattan Club in the 1870's. The Manhattan can be made and enjoyed in many subtle different ways. Like a martini, the volume of vermouth can be adjusted to suit a dryer or sweeter palette.

• 50ml Rye Whiskey
• 20ml Sweet Vermouth
• 1 dash of Angostura Bitters

Add all the ingredients to a stirring glass with lots of ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Looking for the right cocktail for your occasion?

Although these whiskey cocktails are all relatively easy, sometimes the hassle of getting the ingredients and mixing the drinks is one more distraction from actually enjoying the occasion. Instead, why not try one of our premium  whiskey pre-mixed bottled cocktails here. You can choose from the Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, Penicillin, and Boulevardier mentioned in this article, or something a little more complex like our Lynchburg Lemonade or Eclipse. It's likely your guests will have varying preferences too, so our mixed bundles provide great variety and value for money, whilst saving that all important time.