Classic Whisky Cocktails

Whisky CLASSIC COCKTAILS

Most whiskies can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or with a splash of water, just as the creators had perhaps intended. Sometimes though, the occasion calls for something a little more fancy, and that’s where a classic whisky cocktail is what’s needed.

WORDS AND RECIPES BEN DAVIDSON PHOTOGRAPHS RYAN STUART

Many classic cocktails from before and during the ‘Golden Age’ of the cocktail, used American whiskies like Rye or Bourbon to soften and sweeten the punch of a big cask-strength whiskey - in drinks like the Mint Julep, Whiskey Sour or Old Fashioned. A little later on, bartenders also started using Irish and Scotch whiskies in cocktails, which bring their own set of soothing flavours to the mix.

These Classic Whisky cocktails have stood the test of time because of their elegant simplicity and allowing the whisky to be the hero of the cocktail.

When deciding to make cocktails at home there are a few important things to consider:

• Always use good quality whiskey or whisky in the cocktail like some of the one’s shown here.

• Always use fresh squeezed lemon juice when called for in the recipe, anything less will ruin the taste.

• Always use good quality ice. We used ice from the Bare Bones Ice Company, based in

Sydney. They can supply crystal clear ice that takes the cocktail to a higher level. • Always use a beautiful glass to serve it in, like glassware from the Spiegelau Perfect Serve collection seen here.

• Get yourself some good quality bar tools like those from Über Bar Tools or Bar Geek.

HOW TO MAKE AN OLD FASHIONED

The Old-Fashioned whiskey cocktail started it’s life in the 19th century as a way to enjoy a whiskey throughout the day at a lower ABV than the straight whiskey itself. By combining, sugar, water and aromatic bitters with a good rye or Bourbon whiskey, the Old Fashioned cocktail is a pure delight for the senses. It has undergone a recent renaissance in popularity helped by the classic cocktail revival trend as well as through the hugely popular Mad Men television series.

STEP 1 Add a sugar cube to an Old-fashioned glass and hit it with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

STEP 2 Add a bar spoon of cold water and break down the sugar cube with a flat ended bar spoon.

STEP 3 Add a healthy measure of your choice of whiskey and a large ice cube or smaller cubes of ice. Stir very well for at least a minute, to get the required dilution, chilled temperature, as well as integrating all the ingredients together.

STEP 4 Garnish with an orange peel twist and a Maraschino cherry and serve immediately.

OLD FASHIONED WHISKEY COCKTAIL

GLASS: Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey 2 x Dashes Aromatic bitters 1 x Sugar cube 1 x Orange peel twist 1 x Maraschino cherry

METHOD: Add the sugar cube and aromatic bitters to a cocktail stirring glass and press with a flat-ended bar spoon. Add whiskey and ice and stir well for at least one minute. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a large cube of ice.

GARNISH: An orange peel twist and a Maraschino cherry

SAZERAC

GLASS: Old Fashioned glass

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Southern Comfort Black Whiskey 15ml Cognac 5ml French absinthe 2 x Dashes Peychaud’s bitters 2 x Dashes Angostura bitters

METHOD: Add all ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass and stir gently with ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass.

GARNISH: Lemon peel twist

NEW YORK SOUR

GLASS: Double Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Michter’s Rye Whiskey 30ml Fresh lemon juice 20ml Red wine 15ml Sugar syrup 15ml Egg white

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a large scoop of ice. Shake vigorously until fully mixed together. Strain into a Double Old Fashioned and add a large cube of ice.

GARNISH: A slice of orange and a Maraschino cherry

HONEY & GINGER TODDY

GLASS: Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 50ml Johnnie Walker Double Black Scotch Whisky 75ml Hot water 10ml Fresh lemon juice 10ml Honey 1 x Cinnamon stick 1 x Slice of ginger

METHOD: Add ginger to an Old Fashioned glass and press with a flat ended bar spoon. Add remaining ingredients and stir gently.

GARNISH: Cinnamon stick

BLOOD & SAND

GLASS: Coupette

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Chivas 18YO Scotch Whisky 15ml Sweet vermouth 15ml Cherry Heering liqueur 30ml Fresh orange juice

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with a large scoop of ice. Strain into a cocktail glass over a large cube of ice.

GARNISH: Orange peel twist

MINT JULEP

GLASS: Copper cup

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Woodford Reserve Double Oak Bourbon 10ml Sugar syrup 1 x Large bunch of fresh mint

METHOD: Add ingredients to a metal julep cup and stir gently with a large cube of ice until frost appears on the cup.

GARNISH: Large bunch of mint sprigs

WHISKY COLLINS

GLASS: Highball

INGREDIENTS: 60ml The Singleton of Dufftown Scotch Whisky 30ml Fresh lemon juice 15ml Sugar syrup 90ml Fever Tree Soda Water

METHOD: Add ingredients to a highball glass. Add an ice spear and stir gently.

GARNISH: Lemon wheel

THE SMOKY ROB ROY

GLASS: Coupette

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Talisker Storm Scotch Whisky 15ml Sweet vermouth 2 x Dashes Aromatic bitters

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass and stir gently with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.

GARNISH: Maraschino cherry

WHISKY SOUR

GLASS: Double Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 60ml The Macallan 12YO Double Cask Scotch Whisky 30ml Fresh lemon juice 15ml Sugar syrup 15ml Egg white

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a large scoop of ice. Shake vigorously until fully mixed together. Strain into a Double Old Fashioned glass and add a large cube of ice.

GARNISH: An orange peel twist and a Maraschino cherry

IRISH COFFEE

GLASS: Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 50ml Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey 75ml Hot black coffee 10ml Sugar syrup 30ml Lightly whipped cream

METHOD: Add the first three ingredients to an Old Fashioned and stir gently. Carefully layer the lightly whipped cream onto the surface over the back of a bar spoon.

GARNISH: Coffee beans

FRENCH MANHATTAN

GLASS: Martini glass

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Buffalo Trace Bourbon 15ml Sweet vermouth 5ml French absinthe 2 x Dashes Aromatic bitters

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass and stir gently with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.

MORNING GLORY FIZZ

GLASS: Highball

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Dewar’s 15YO Scotch Whisky 20ml Fresh lemon juice 5ml French absinthe 10ml Sugar syrup 10ml Egg white 60ml Fever Tree Soda Water

METHOD: Add the first five ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a large scoop of ice. Shake vigorously until fully mixed. Strain into a highball glass and then add soda water.

GARNISH: Lemon peel twist

PENICILLIN

GLASS: Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Dewar’s 15YO Scotch Whisky 30ml Fresh lemon juice 30ml Ginger & honey syrup 10ml Peated whisky

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake with a large scoop of ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a large cube of ice.

BOUDLEVARDIER

GLASS: Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS: 30ml Wild Turkey Bourbon 20ml Campari 20ml Sweet vermouth

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass and stir gently with ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a large cube of ice.

GARNISH: An orange peel twist