Micaela JularbalWhiskey has been around since the Middle Ages but it has never enjoyed as much popularity as it does now. Perhaps we have TV shows like Mad Men to thank for that. Or the Johnny Walker “Keep walking” campaign that has fired the spirit and imagination of men and women around the world.
Whatever the reason, sharing a good bottle of aged Scotch or bourbon has become the perfect icebreaker in any situation; in fact, it could even be the perfect way to win over your father-in-law. And you can take it one step further: How about mixing a few whiskey cocktails that will make him forget the thought of visiting the neighborhood dive for a quick drink?
It can’t be just any whiskey cocktail, of course. With the resurgence of this spirit’s popularity, an entire plethora of whiskey mixed drinks have surfaced – including some truly strange ones, like a bacon, bourbon and Nutella mash-up. Although these strange concoctions actually taste good, you’d probably want to get on your father-in-law’s good side with something less bizarre.
It’s best to go with the classics — those drinks that have lived on in whiskey history and have a special place on the cocktail list of any bar worth going to. Here’s a collection of whiskey cocktail recipes that will likely earn you undying admiration from your father-in-law.
Old-Fashioned
This drink has “manly” stamped all over it. Old-Fashioned goes back a long way. The original recipe dates back to 1806 and was first published in a newspaper called The Balance and Columbian Repository. It’s a timeless combination of liquor, sugar, and bitters, creating a stirring complexity without drowning the flavor of whiskey. It’s no wonder it has been a favorite for generations, including today’s hipster crowd.
Ingredients:
1 sugar cube
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Club soda
Ice
2 oz. whiskey (rye or bourbon)
Orange peel
- Place the sugar cube in an Old-Fashioned glass.
- Add Angostura bitters, orange peel, and a splash of club soda.
- Crush the sugar with a wooden muddler or strong spoon. Muddle the orange peel to extract the oils.
- Add a large ice cube, or a few smaller cubes.
- Pour in the whiskey. Stir and serve chilled.
- Garnish with the orange slice if desired.
Manhattan
Also known as the world’s best drink — depending, of course, on who you ask — Manhattan is a classic cocktail that’s just as venerable as the New York borough it was named after. Dating back to 1874, Manhattan has been satisfying palates with its perfect combination of whiskey, vermouth and bitters, said to rival the harmony of gin and tonic and the simple sophistication of a martini.
To make the classic Manhattan, you need rye whiskey. Any other whiskey variant will simply not give you the bold yet relaxing quality this drink is known for.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Rye Whiskey
1 oz. Italian vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Cracked ice
- Combine the rye, vermouth, bitters and cracked ice in a glass.
- Stir until the glass is cold. You may also shake if preferred.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with maraschino cherry.
Manhattan has spawned many variations. Just substitute one of the ingredients with something else or add new ones or change their proportions and you have an entirely new cocktail.
Here are some combinations you can try:
To make a Monahan, substitute a splash of Amer Picon for the Angostura
To make a Mckinley’s Delight, add two dashes of cherry brandy and a dash of absinthe
To make a Rosemary, use a half-ounce of Italian vermouth and add a half-ounce of French vermouth
To make a Brown University, add two dashes of orange bitters
To make a Jumbo, combine equal parts of rye whiskey, French vermouth and Italian vermouth, and eliminate the bitters
To make a Honolulu, use bourbon instead of rye and add equal parts of French vermouth and Italian vermouth
Sazerac
Sazerac is a New Orleans classic but the original version used cognac instead of whiskey. First introduced in the mid-19th century, the drink was named after Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils, a brand of cognac.
Today’s Sazerac is a variation of the classic whiskey cocktail, featuring a combination of spirit, bitters, sugars and water. Cognac may or may not be added to the mix, but its inclusion certainly makes the drink even more potent. Sazerac is not for the faint-hearted — its strong flavors give it plenty of punch, making it a favorite among experienced whiskey lovers.
Ingredients:
1 sugar cube
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
1 ounce rye whiskey
1 ounce VSOP Cognac*
1 teaspoon absinthe
3 star anise pods or a lemon peel
*Note: You may discard the cognac and use 2 ½ oz. of rye whiskey instead
- Place sugar cube in a mixing glass and add Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters.
- Add the rye whiskey and VSOP Cognac
- Crush the sugar with a muddler until it dissolves.
- Add ice and stir until the glass is very cold.
- Roll a few drops of absinthe around a brandy snifter or an Old-Fashioned glass
- Strain the cocktail into the snifter or glass
- Garnish with star anise pods or a lemon peel
Irish Coffee
What can be more comforting on a dreary night than a hot mug of strong coffee made even more potent by a dash — or more — of whiskey? Irish coffee is the classic pick-me-up drink for those gloomy winter days, cool summer nights — or just about any time you want the consoling warmth of both coffee and whiskey.
In fact, Irish coffee was concocted to do just that. In the 1940s, a group of weary travelers sought refuge in a terminal bar after flying in a sea plane for ten hours in bad weather. Joe Sheridan, the bartender, whipped up the drink to cheer them up. It worked like magic and Irish coffee was born.
Ingredients:
2 oz Irish whiskey
5 to 6 ounces coffee
2 teaspoons brown sugar
heavy cream
- Pour the whiskey, coffee, and sugar into a mug and stir until sugar is dissolved
- Lightly whip heavy cream and add a layer on top of the drink. Do not mix.
