Easy Whisky Cocktails

Sure, everyone loves the thrill and the drama of an elaborate cocktail. But it’s also a fact that sometimes you just want something that hits the spot. Something quick which doesn’t cut back on quality. Something easy which still feels elevated.

Whisk these whisky cocktails up in no time. Each one requires minimal effort but delivers maximum impact – and we’ll toast to that.

Old Fashioned

You’ll need:

  • 60ml bourbon

  • 10ml 2:1 sugar syrup (two parts sugar dissolved over heat into one part water)

  • Two dashes of aromatic bitters

  • A slice of orange peel and one maraschino cherry

To make:

  • Fill a rocks glass with ice

  • Add the whisky, syrup and bitters

  • Stir and finish with an orange peel and cherry to garnish

Curious to learn more about the best whiskey to use in an Old Fashioned? Read our guide on the traditional approach, and some not-so-traditional approaches.

Learn more

Scotch Mule (aka Glasgow Mule)

You’ll need:

  • 60ml whisky

  • 15ml lime juice

  • 10ml 2:1 sugar syrup (two parts sugar dissolved over heat into one part water)

  • Ginger beer

  • Mint (optional garnish)

To make:

  • Fill a glass (a copper mule mug, if you have it!) with ice and pour in your chosen whisky

  • Add your lime juice and sugar syrup

  • Top with ginger beer and stir lightly

  • Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Whisky Mac

You'll need:

  • 40ml Scotch whisky - we love Johnnie Walker Black Label for this drink

  • 25ml ginger wine

  • Lemon peel

To prepare:

  • Place a few ice cubes in an ice glass, then pour over the ginger wine and Scotch.

  • Stir gently and serve with a strip of freshly cut lemon peel.

Manhattan

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whiskey (typically a rye, like Bulleit)

  • 25ml sweet vermouth

  • A couple of dashes of bitters

  • A maraschino cherry

To make:

  • Pour your whiskey and vermouth into a mixing glass filled with ice

  • Add in a couple of dashes of bitters

  • Give it a stir for about 30 seconds

  • Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a skewered maraschino cherry

Rusty Nail

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky (we love Johnnie Walker Black Label for this, but any blended Scotch is perfect)

  • 25ml Drambuie (if you can’t find this product, a close alternative is swapping it for honey)

  • Lemon peel

To make:

  • Add the whisky and Drambuie to a mixing glass filled with ice

  • Stir the mixture for about 30 seconds

  • Strain into a short glass

  • Add a twist of lemon peel

Glitterball

Celebrating? Swap the champagne for this whisky marvel. It’s low effort but high glamour.

You’ll need:

  • 40ml Johnnie Walker Gold Label

  • 20ml elderflower cordial

  • 15ml sour syrup (we recommend buying a pre-made mix)

  • 30ml soda water

  • Lemon peel

To make:

  • Pour your whisky, elderflower cordial and syrup into a mixing glass filled with ice

  • Give it a stir for about 30 seconds

  • Strain into a champagne flute

  • Add the soda water to top

  • Garnish with a twisted lemon peel

Rob Roy

The Rob Roy is very similar to a Manhattan, in both flavour and how simple it is to make. The key difference is that a Rob Roy only ever uses Scotch whisky, whereas a Manhattan can use a rye or any other kind of whisky.

You’ll need:

  • 60ml single malt Scotch whisky

  • 15ml sweet vermouth

  • A couple of dashes of bitters

  • Lemon peel

To make:

  • Fill a mixing glass with ice

  • Measure out your whisky and sweet vermouth and pour into the glass

  • Add a few dashes of bitters

  • Stir for around 30 seconds and strain into a martini or coupe glass

  • Cut a lemon peel strip, twist and hang from the rim

Cold Fashioned

A simple but punchy take on a classic, this recipe uses equal parts rye whiskey and Mr. Black coffee liqueur with a few dashes of orange bitters.

You’ll need:

  • 30ml Bulleit bourbon

  • 30ml Mr Black cold brew coffee liqueur (or any coffee liqueur)

  • Orange bitters

  • Orange peel

To make:

  • Measure your coffee liqueur and bourbon into a rocks glass

  • Add two dashes of orange bitters

  • Gently add in one large ice cube and stir for about 20 seconds

  • Garnish with an orange peel

Sazerac

You’ll need:

  • 40ml Bulleit bourbon

  • 20ml cognac

  • 10ml sugar syrup (two parts sugar dissolved over heat into one part water)

  • A few dashes of bitters

  • A rinse of absinthe (procuring absinthe is the hardest part of this deceptively simple classic cocktail!)

  • Lemon peel

To make:

  • Add your bourbon, cognac and syrup to a mixing glass filled with ice

  • Add bitters and stir until it’s mixed (roughly about 30 seconds)

  • Strain your drink into a rocks glass which has been rinsed with absinthe (this just means pouring about a shot in, swirling it around and then pouring it away)

  • Add a lemon peel for garnish

Whisky Highball

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky

  • 150ml soda water

  • Lemon slice

To make:

  • Fill a highball glass with ice

  • Pour in your whisky and top up with soda water

  • Stir gently to combine and add the lemon slice to garnish

Sunrise Highball

Following the tried and tested method of a simple Whisky Highball, the Sunrise Highball adds a touch of citrus and sweet flavours to really reimagine what a whisky cocktail can taste like.

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky

  • 100ml blood orange juice

  • 50ml fresh orange juice

  • Orange slice

To make:

  • In a highball glass filled with ice, pour in your whisky

  • Next, add in your blood orange juice

  • Finally, top with fresh orange juice to create a layered effect

  • Garnish with the orange slice

Whisky & Cola

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky - a Johnnie Walker Red Label is great for this

  • 125ml cola of choice

  • Lime wedge

To make:

  • Fill a highball glass with ice

  • Pour in your chosen whisky

  • Top with cola

  • Add a wedge of lime to garnish

Hot Toddy

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky

  • 75ml boiling water

  • 25ml runny honey

  • 15ml lemon juice

  • 3 cloves

  • 1 lemon

To make:

  • To a mug or heatproof glass, add the whisky, honey and lemon and stir to combine

  • Drop in the cloves

  • Top with boiling water

  • Garnish with a slice of lemon

Gold Rush

You'll need:

  • 60ml whisky - try a Johnnie Walker Black Label

  • 25ml lemon juice

  • 15ml honey

  • Pinch of salt

  • Lemon peel

To make:

  • Add the whisky, lemon juice, honey and salt to a cocktail shaker filled with ice

  • Shake vigorously until the surface of the cocktail shaker is cold to the touch

  • Strain into a glass with ice cubes

  • Twist a lemon peel and add to the glass for garnish

Dark Delight

You'll need:

  • 25ml whiskey

  • 25ml orange liqueur

  • 200ml of stout (such as Guinness)

  • Chocolate shavings

To make:

  • Add ice cubes to a rocks glass

  • Pour in your whisky and orange liqueur

  • Top up with stout

  • Add chocolate shavings as garnish

Godfather

Now the offer of this well-balanced, rich treat is something you can’t refuse.

You’ll need:

  • 50ml whisky - a blended Scotch is preferable

  • 25ml amaretto

  • Orange peel

To make:

  • Add ice to a large mixing glass

  • Pour in your whisky and amaretto and give it a good stir – the outside of the glass should feel very cold when it’s ready

  • Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice

  • Garnish with a twisted orange peel

Shop Blended Scotch

The final word

So, which one will you choose? If you're looking for more, enjoy our rundown of the best whisky cocktails ever. You'll see a few familiar faces, we're sure.

Learn more

Explore the world of Malts

A rocks glass containing whisky and ice sits on a bar, with a cocktail shaker and jigger behind it.
The Beginner’s Guide to Different Whisky Types

From American bourbon to Scotch whisky, read our handy guide to the different types of whisky, how they’re made and how they differ.

An Old Fashioned cocktail in a rocks glass sits on a glass table, surrounded by playing cards, dominos and some canapes. Two people sit behind the cocktail.
Whisky Flavours Explored

From peaty whisky to fruity whisky, lean on our expert insights to discover the full variety and character of different whisky flavours.

A rocks glass of ice and whisky sits on the edge of a pool table. A man holds a pool cue and repositions a white pool ball.
The Best Whiskies for Beginners

Choosing the correct beginner whisky is an important step for any budding malts enthusiast. Let us help you start your journey.

A woman holds a rocks glass or whisky and ice
Whisky Tasting for Beginners

Professional whisky tasting takes practice. Use our do's and don'ts to demystify the experience and enjoy your drams in a whole new way.

View All