Whisky in the Summer: How to Sup in the Sun
We all love whisky. It’s why we’re here, learning about the latest news and inspiration from the finest distilleries and discovering exciting new launches. But even the most ardent whisky fan amongst us might sometimes feel like it’s not the most obvious choice of treat in the heat. If you’re invited to a BBQ or planning to have friends round to enjoy the sunshine, you might meet some resistance if you suggest serving up whisky.
While there are subtle ways of including whisky in your summer plans – such as whipping up a whisky sauce to go with the sizzling BBQ snacks - it doesn’t end there. There are plenty of ways to sip throughout the summer…
At a glance, there’s some easy tips to make whisky a perfect summertime treat.
Ice – if you normally take it neat, try it on the rocks. Whisky loves ice, and you’ll love the crisp, cool taste in the heat
Avoid bitters – many classic whisky cocktails use strong-flavoured bitters to awaken the smoke or the peat, but consider leaving these for cosier climes
Try a younger whisky – older whiskies are revered for their heavy and complex flavours, but if you want a lighter drink that you don’t mind mixing with plenty of ice or splashes of soda, try a younger bottle
Mix it in a punch bowl – summertime gatherings are known for communal punch bowls – consider measuring out a sensible pour of whisky and adding it to some refreshing flavours, like peaches and citrus fruits, along with your favourite mixer
Swap your mixer - if you normally splash a touch of water or something else to your whisky, try adding a more seasonal lemonade
Summer whisky cocktails
Bathing in the heat with a classic cocktail is one of the joys of summer – but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon the refined touch of a whisky and replace it with a creamy, sugary concoction. Some of the best whisky cocktails are primed for summer fun.
Of course we start with a Mint Julep – long associated with drawn-out summer nights in the American South. Make this classic, sit out under the open skies and bask in the ambience as the summer sun slowly fades away.
You’ll need:
50ml whisky (this classic American cocktail calls for a Bulleit bourbon)
15ml demerara syrup (made using two parts demerara sugar dissolved over heat into one part water)
Mint leaves and sprig
To make:
Muddle a handful of mint leaves in a julep cup (or a rocks glass, if you prefer)
Pour in your whisky and syrup
Add crushed ice and stir
Garnish with a mint sprig
The Singleton Paloma
From the spicy Margarita to a technicolour Tequila Sunrise, the South American spirit evokes the feeling of long summer days and endless summer nights. Taking inspiration, The Singleton offers up an inspired twist on a sophisticated and surprisingly simple tequila favourite.
You’ll need:
45ml The Singleton 12-Year-Old
30ml grapefruit juice
20ml chilli honey (made by adding around one teaspoon of chilli flakes per 20ml serving of honey)
Soda water (regular or pink grapefruit flavour, you pick)
Grapefruit wedge
To make:
In a shaker filled with ice, add the whisky, juice and chilli honey
Shake hard until the surface of the shaker is cold
Strain into a highball glass filled with ice
Top with soda water and add a wedge of grapefruit
The Algonquin
Is there any fruit more evocative of beachy summer days than pineapple? This cocktail – named after a famous New York hotspot frequented by writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Dorothy Parker – is full of surprising flavours; refreshing without being overwhelmingly sweet.
You’ll need:
45ml whisky (we love a rye for this, like Bulleit 95 Frontier Whiskey)
15ml dry vermouth
15ml pineapple juice
Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry to garnish
To make:
Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice
Shake hard until the surface feels cold
Strain into a coupe
Skewer a pineapple wedge and cherry and place into the glass to garnish
Summer Rye
The name gives it away, and with these perfectly balanced summery flavours, you’ll be saying ‘rye not?’ to this serving of sunshine in a glass.
You’ll need:
45ml whisky (a rye is great, but you can opt for a lighter blended scotch too)
25ml elderflower liqueur
10ml simple syrup
25ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
30ml apple juice
Champagne to top
To make:
Prepare a cocktail shaker by filling it roughly ¾ full of ice
Pour in your whisky, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice and apple juice
Shake hard until the surface is cold
Double-strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice
Top with the Champagne
Whisky Colada
Its rum cousin might have a song written about it, but the Whisky Colada promises to be the real high-achiever of the family summer party.
You’ll need:
50ml whisky (we love something balanced like a Johnnie Walker Black Label for this)
30ml coconut cream
110ml pineapple juice
15ml sea buckthorn juice
Pineapple slice
To make:
Pour all your ingredients into a shaker filled with ice
Shake hard until the surface feels very cold
Pour into a highball glass filled with ice
Garnish with a pineapple slice
Summer whisky highballs
Herman van der Meij, a luxury whiskies ambassador, knows that whisky in the summer isn’t just acceptable, it’s all the rage right now. “Highballs are hot at the moment… the tall drink filled with fresh ice cubes, a shot of alcohol, sometimes a cordial or syrup added and topped off with a soft drink is simple and perfect for a leisurely sip in the sun.”
As for his preferred Highball for the heat? The Skyeball – named after Talisker Skye.
To make:
Fill a highball glass with ice
Rim the glass with a wedge of lime and squeeze the rest into the glass
Pour in 35ml of Talisker Skye
Top with ginger ale
A refreshing (and refreshingly simple!) sunny whisky cocktail.
Our final top tips for summer whisky drinks
The versatility of whisky means you actually have the opportunity of making your own summery concoction. There are no rules about what you can add your favourite dram to, so the experts suggest experimenting.
Maurits Wetemans, who helps to shape the very newest and pioneering flavours as a World Class Ambassador, shares, “First pick your whisky of choice. Then add syrups and soda water – syrups are an easy and fabulous way to add any of your favourite flavours to the drink.”
The best part is you can buy a huge variety of ready-made syrups these days, or you could try and make your own.
Making your own syrups takes more time and patience, but you can control the flavours – and it’s a perfect way to get in the summer spirit. Head outside, pick wild fruits, enjoy the sunshine and ward yourself at the end of the day with a freshly made whisky drink designed to your very own specifications.
To make a flavoured syrup, you’ll follow the steps of making a simple syrup, but add your preferred flavourings.
You’ll need:
A large saucepan
Sugar (granulated is ideal, but try experimenting)
Water
Your preferred fruits or herbs
To make:
Whisk together your sugar and water over a low heat
Once the sugar is dissolved, add your fruit or herbs and bring to a simmer over a medium heat - there’s no right amount so just be mindful of how sweet and strong you want the flavours at the end
Leave this to simmer for 10 minutes before removing from the heat
Cool the syrup and strain it into an easy-pour container
Store in the fridge until ready to use, and discard after 2 weeks.
When it comes to mixing whiskies with fruit syrups, Maurits picks out some of the popular combinations which work well with a single malt or blended Scotch, advising to select “elderflower, rose lemonade, peach, jasmine, blood orange, ginger and Sicilian lemonade.”
If you’d prefer to try some different flavours, consider the flavour profile of your chosen whisky and try to match these with complementary notes. For example, a whisky with more chocolatey notes might go better with cherry and orange fruit flavours.
Whisky is truly a versatile spirit that can be enjoyed all year round. If you’re looking to experiment with newer flavours and ways to enjoy it this summer, you can also check out some of our favourite easy whisky cocktails - each one can be crafted in minutes, and usually with items you’ll have at home already.
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